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REPORT 

OF   A 


GEOLOGICAL  RECONNOISSANCE 


OF 


MADE  DURING  THE  YEARS  1859  AND  1860,  UNDER  THE  DIRECTION  OF  THE  LATE 

DAVID  DALE  OWEN,  M.  D., 

STATE  GEOLOGIST, 

BY  RICHARD  OWEN,  M.  L>., 

PRINCIPAL  ASSISTANT,  NOW  STATE  GEOLOGIST. 


ALSO,  REPORTS  ON  THE  ANALYSIS  OF  THE    SOILS,  BY  R.  PETER,   M  D,,  CHEMIST; 

SURVEY  OF  THE  COAL  FIELDS,  BY  LEO  LESQUEREUX,  FOSSIL  BOTANIST, 

AND  TOPOGRAPHICAL  WORK,   BY  JOSEPH  LESLEY, 

TOPOGRAPHICAL   GEOLOGIST. 


OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY 

OF 

.____ 

PUBLISHED  BY  AUTHORITY  OF  THE  INDIANA  LEGISLATURE. 


ISTDIANAPLOIS: 

CO.,    BO 

1862. 


UMtARf 


.*'• 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS, 


PAGE. 

Prefatory  Letter vii 

Introduction — Objects  of  the  Survey  ix 

REPORT  OF  RICHARD  OWEN. 
CHAPTER  I. 

PRELIMINARY  OBSERVATIONS  3 

Laws  governing  geological  investigations 4 

Palaeontology  our  chief  guide  in  determining  the  relation  of  strata 7 

Comparative  anatomy  the  basis  of  Palaeontology 8 

On  the  question,  whether  superposed  strata  exhibit  a  succession  of  fossilized  beings, 

apparently  more  highly  organized  in  recent  than  in  older  deposits «....  9 

Tabular  view  of  the  Aqueous  Rocks 14 

Conspectus  of  the  Igneous  Rocks 16 

Geographical  distribution  of  formations  over  the  world 18 

Geographical  distribution  of  formations  in  Indiana 23 

CHAPTER  II. 

DETAILS  OF  COUNTIES 27 

SEC.  1. — Counties  in  the  Lower  Silurian  Formation 30 

Sub-Section  1. — General  description  of  the  formation 30 

Sub-Section  2. — The  resulting  soil;  its  analysis,  adaptation.  &c 31 

Sub-Section  3.— Rock  quarries 33 

Sub-Section  4. — Metallic  ores,  &c 35 

Sub-Section  5. — Growth  of  timber  and  other  predominant  vegetation ,. 36 

Sub-Section  6.— Mineral  springs,  Artesian  wells,  &c 37 

Sub-Section  7. — Miscellaneous  facts,  as  the  prevalence  of  milk- sickness,  potato 

rot,  &c 38 

Sub-Section  8.— Characteristic  fossils 39 

A.  Radiates 39 

B.  Mollusks ; 39 

C.  Articulates 40 

D.  Vertebrates 40 

Sub-Section  9. — A  more  detailed  description  of  each  county  in  this  formation 40 

Wayne  county 40 

Union  county 44 


100137 


IV  GEOLOGICAL   RECONNOISSANCE 


PAGE. 

Fayette  county ,.  45 

Franklin  county 49 

Dearborn  county 50 

Ripley  county , 52 

Ohio  county 53 

Switzerland  county 55 

SEC.  2. — Counties  in  the  Upper  Silurian  Formation 57 

Sub-Section  1.  —General  description 57 

Sub-Section  2.— Soil,  &c , 58 

Sub-Section  3. — Rock  quarries 59 

Sub-Section  4. — Metallic  ores 60 

Sub-Section  5. — Timber  and  predominant  vegetation 60 

Sub-Section  C.^Springs 61 

Sub-Section  7. — Miscellaneous  facts 61 

Sub-Section  8. — Characteristic  fossils 62 

A.  Radiates  62 

B.  Mollusks 62 

C.  Articulates  , 63 

D.  Vertebrates 63 

Sub-Section  9. — A  more  detailed  description  of  each  county 63 

Adams  and  Wells  counties 63 

Huntington  county ...  .  66 

Wabash  county 67 

Miami  county 72 

Jay  and  Blackford  counties 74 

Grant  and  Howard  counties 75 

Delaware  county 76 

Madison  county 77 

Randolph  county 80 

Henry  and  Hancock  counties 82 

Rush  county 85 

Decatur  county 86 

Jennings  county 88 

Jefferson  county  88 

SEC.  3. — Counties  in  the  Devonian  System 92 

Sub-Section  1. — General  description 92 

Sub-Section  2.— Soil,  &c 93 

Sub-Section  3. — Rock  quarries 93 

Sub-Section  4. — Metallic  ores 93 

Sub-Section  5. — Timber  and  predominant  vegetation 93 

Sub-Section  6.— Springs 93 

Sub-Section  7.—  Miscellaneous  facts 94 

Sub-Section  8. — Characteristic  fossils , 94 

A.  Radiates 94 

B.  Mollusks 95 

C.  Articulates  95 

D.  Vertebrates...                             95 


OP  INDIANA. 


PAGE. 

Sub-Section  9. — A  more  detailed  description  of  each  county 95 

Cass  county 95 

Carroll  county 97 

Tipton  and  Hamilton  counties 101 

Shelby  county 103 

Bartholomew  county  104 

Jackson  and  Scott  counties 104 

Clarke  county  106 

SEC>  41. — Counties  in  the  Sub-Carboniferous  Sandstone  formation 108 

Sub-Sections  1  to  9 108 

Tippecanoe  county » Ill 

Clinton  and  Bootie 113 

Marion  county  114 

Hendricks  and  Johnson  counties 11G 

Morgan  and  Brown  counties 117 

Washington  and  Floyd  counties 120 

SEC.  4a. — Counties  in  the  Sub-Carboniferous  limestone 124 

Sub-Sections  1  to  9 124 

Montgomery  county 132 

Putnam  county 134 

Monroe  county 135 

La     ence  county 137 

Orange  and  Harrison  counties 140,  146 

Crawford  county 149 

SCE.  4s. — Counties  in  the  Coal  Measures 100 

Sub-Sections  1  to  9 160 

Warren  county 163 

Fountain  and  Parke  counties 165 

Vermillion  and  Clay  counties 167 

Vigo  and  Owen  counties 170 

Greene  and  Sullivan  counties 171 

Martin  and  Daviess  counties 173 

Knox  and  Dubois  counties 178 

Pike  and  Gibson  counties 180 

Perry  and  Spencer  counties 181 

Warrick  and  Vanderburgh  counties 189 

Posey  county 190 

SEC.  5. — Counties  in  the  Drift  or  Quaternary  formation  192 

Sub-Sections  1  to  9 192 

Steuben,  LaGrange  and  Elkhart  counties 198 

St.  Joseph  and  LaPorte  counties 199 

Porter  and  Lake  counties 204 

DeKulb  and  Noble... 207 

Kosciusko,  Marshall  and  Starke  counties 208 

Jasper  and  Newton, 211 

Allen  and  Whitley  counties 214 

Fulton  and  Pulaski  counties  217 

White  and  Benton  counties 218 


VI  GEOLOGICAL   RECONNOISSANCE 

PAGE. 

CHAPTER  III. 

PHYSICAL  GEOGRAPHY. — 

SEC.  1. — Water  sheds  and  plateaus 223 

SEC.  2. — Valleys  and  hydrographic  basins,  including  prairies,  sand  plains,  lakes,  &c  228 

Remarks  on  miscellaneous  subjects  connected  with  the  survey 240 

DR.  PETER'S  REPORT. 

Remarks  on  Agricultural  Chemistry 245 

Chemical  analysis  of  Indiana  soils 249 

SEC.  1. — Soils  from  the  Lower  Silurian  formation r. ...  249 

SEC.  2. — Soils  from  the  Upper  Silurian  formation 252 

SEC.  3. — Soils  from  the  Devonian  formation 255 

SEC.  4. — Soils  from  the  Sub-Carboniferous  formation 258 

SEC.  5. — Soils  from  the  Coal  Measures  group 259 

gECi  6. — Soils  from  the  Quaternary  formation 263 

Tabular  views  of  soils  analyzed 266 

REPORT  OF  PROF.  LESQUEREUX. 

Introductory  remarks  273 

Directions  for  searching  for  coal  275 

Quality  of  the  coal  and  its  value 279 

Geological  horizon  of  the  coal  strata  of  Indiana 291 

Connected  section  of  Coal  Measures 299 

Conclusions , .... 341 

Report  of  Mr.  J.  Lesley,  Topographical  Geologist 343 

Appendix — Tabular  views,  &c.,  useful  for  reference 347 


PREFATORY  LETTER. 


To  the  Members  of  the  State  Board  of  Agriculture, 

Indianapolis,  Indiana  : 

GENTLEMEN  : — The  Legislature  of  Indiana  having,  on  your  recom- 
mendation, passed  an  act  for  a  Geological  Reconnoissance  of,  the  State, 
approved  March  5,1859,  which  should  "prepare  the  way  for  a  more  full 
and  systematic  system  herafter,"  and  having  appropriated  $5,000  "  for 
the  present  purpose  of  making  the  geological  reconnoissance,  collec- 
tions and  analysis  of  specimens  of  minerals,  ores,  earths  and  stones," 
placed  the  whole  under  your  control.  Your  Board,  in  accordance  with 
the  above  act,  secured  the  services  of  my  lamented  brother,  late  State 
Geologist  of  Kentucky  and  Arkansas,  as  well  as  of  this  State,  to  super- 
intend the  work.  He  accepted  with  hesitation,  as  you  will  remember, 
because  he  was  still  engaged  in  thje  field  explorations  of  Arkansas,  and 
had  also  his  last  report  to  make  to  Kentucky;  but  he  finally  consented 
with  the  understanding  that,  until  those  duties  were  completed,  I  would 
perform  most  of  the  field  work  and  report  on  the  same.  In  the  con- 
densed report  submitted  to  you,  the  promise  was  made  by  him  to  pre- 
pare those  details  of  our  field  work  by  general  observations  from  him- 
self on  agricultural  chemistry  and  milk  sickness,  particularly  the  con- 
nection of  the  latter  with  peculiar  geological  formations. 

But  his  untimely  death  arrested  the  labors  continued  with  unflagging 
perseverance  until  within  three  days  of  his  decease,  and  to  which  he 
had  so  entirely  devoted  his  life,  as  not  to  permit  himself  the  relaxation 
necessary  for  health;  and  the  world  was  thus  too  soon  deprived" of  his 
valuable  services.  His  own  State,  more  especially,  will  feel  and  deplore 
his  loss;  even  the  two  articles  above  alluded  to,  as  expected  from  his 
pen,  might  have  greatly  promoted  the  health  of  our  population,  and 
increased  the  wealth  derivable  from  our  soil,  through  the  useful  practi- 
cal suggestions  designed  to  be  conveyed. 


VIII  GEOLOGICAL    RECONNOISSANCE. 

The  report,  thus  necessarily  deprived  of  a  leading  feature,  must  lose 
part  of  its  interest;  and  even  those  portions,  for  which  I  am  alone  re- 
sponsible, are  rendered  less  complete  and  more  subject  to  inadvertancies 
than  they  would  have  been  under  circumstances  less  trying.  When  to 
these  we  add  the  fact  that  the  administration  of  my  late  brother's  affairs 
require  a  settlement  with  three  States,  and  a  general  superintendence  of 
the  work  so  nearly  completed  by  his  exertions,  perhaps  those  to  whom 
you  present  this  report  may  find  some  other  excuse  for  apparent  mea- 
greness  or  omissions,  than  the  deficiency  of  our  State  in  objects  of  min- 
eral and  agricultural  interest  and  wealth. 

The  result  of  my  labors,  orginally  addressed  to  my  late  brother,  I 
have  now  the  honor  to  present  to  you. 

The  other  accompanying  reports  from  the  distinguished  gentlemen 
who  consented  to  undertake  the  departments  in  which  they  are  preem- 
inent, could  receive  no  additional  lustre  from  my  commendations  ;  but, 
through  you,  I  would  tender  to  them  my  late  brother's  unfeigned  ad- 
miration and  warm  feeling  of  obligation. 

Permit  me,  gentlemen  of  the  State  Board,  in  closing  these  prefatory 
remarks,  to  express  my  sense  of  indebtedness  to  you  for  prompt  and 
efficient  assistance,  as  well  as  for  personal  generous  hospitality. 

Throughout  the  entire  survey  the  courtesy  with  which  we  were  also 
aided  by  those  to  whom  we  have  been  referred,  sometimes  even  by  en- 
tire strangers,  was  highly  gratifying,  as  well  as  the  disinterestedness 
with  which  collegiate  and  private  collections  were  thrown  open  for  in- 
spection. For  all  these  obligations,  I  avail  myself,  with  pleasure,  of 
this  opportunity  to  return,  officially  and  individually,  my  warmest  ac- 
knowledgments. 

I  am,  gentlemen,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

RICHARD  OWEN, 

Principal  Assistant* 

5"Since  appointed  by  the  State  Board  of  Agriculture  State  Geologist  of  Indiana. 


INTRODUCTION. 


In  accordance  with  the  directions  given,  after  your  consultation  with 
the  late  State  Geologist,  the  corps  under  my  charge  proceeded  to  ex- 
amine, first  in  the  fall  of  1859,  the  counties  not  traversed  by  railroads, 
along  the  Ohio  river;  afterwards,  in  succession,  each  agricultural  dis- 
trict,* chiefly  by  railroad  travel,  commencing  in  the  north,  making  as 
prolonged  a  stay  in  each  district  as  the  time  intervening  before  the 
probable  setting  in  of  winter  would  permit.  That  time  being  necessa- 
rily very  limited,  our  chief  endeavor  was  to  ascertain  where  objects  of 
importance  and  interest  were  to  be  found  for  the  Spring  Survey,  rather 
than  to  make  a  critical  and  detailed  examination  of  any  one  locality. 
It  was  arranged,  as  you  will  remember,  to  meet  each  member  of  the 
State  Board  in  the  District  over  which  he  presided,  and  thus  obtain  in- 
teresting general  facts,  as  well  as  to  collect  for  examination  and  analy- 
sis in  the  laboratory  during  the  winter,  a  supply  of  minerals  and  soils. 


*"For  the  information  of  those  not  acquainted  with  the  manner  in  which  the  various  coun- 
ties of  our  State  were  grouped  by  you  into  Agricultural  Districts,  the  following  statement  is 
subjoined :  The  Legislature  provides  that  each  county,  having  a  regularly  organized  Agri- 
cultural Society,  may  send  a  delegate  to  the  annual  meetings  held  in  Indianapolis.  These 
Delegates  elect  a  State  Board  of  Agriculture  consisting,  according  to  the  present  organiza- 
tion, of  sixteen  members,  (eight  elective  annually,)  each  one  of  whom  presides  over  the  in- 
terests of  the  particular  district  to  which  his  election  assigns  him,  besides  enacting  regula- 
tions for  the  general  farming  interests  of  the  State,  and  development  of  agricultural  knowl- 
edge and  prosperty  in  Indiana.  The  Geological  Survey  of  the  State  was  recommended  by 
you,  who  now  constitute  the  above  Board;  and  the  Legislature,  on  the  adoption  of  that 
recommendation,  placed  the  direction  of  the  Survey  under  your  fostering  care. 

The  basis  upon  which  the  State  is  districted  for  agricultural  purposes  is  expressed  in  the 
resolutions,  adopted  by  your  Board  at  the  meeting  in  January,  1859: 

"  1.  Resolved,  That  the  State  be  districted  into  sixteen  agricultural  districts,  upon  the  fol- 
lowing basis:  A  meridian  line  to  be  drawn  from  north  to  south,  passing  through  the  centre 
of  Indianapolis,  and  seven  parallel  lines  to  be  drawn  from  east  to  west,  the  location  of  these 
parallels  to  be  decided  by  a  committee  immediately. 

"2.  Resolved,  That  the  eight  members  of  the  State  Board  now  to  be  elected,  be  taken  from 


GEOLOGICAL    RECONNOISSANCE 


From  your  remarks  I  considered  that  this  survey  was  designed  to 
subserve  various  useful  purposes  and  interests : 

1st.  That  of  the  Farmer,  by  analyzing  the  soils  collected  from  the 
different  geological  formations,  and  showing  which  were  best  adapted 
for  any  given  crop.  Also,  by  comparing  fields  in  long  cultivation,  or 
worn  out,  with  t^e  nearest  virgin-soil,  ascertaining  what  materials  were 
deficient,  or  had  been  exhausted,  and  informing  the  agriculturalist 
whether  sub-soiling  would  return  the  necessary  ingredients  to  his  land, 
or  whether  lime,  plaster,  barn  yard  or  green  manures,  poudrette,  guano 
or  other  fertilizers  would  most  improve  that  agricultural  region. 

2d.  The  Practical  Miner  was  to  be  aided  by  theoretical  calculations, 
after  due  examination  of  the  coal  shales  and  other  distinctive  charac- 
teristics, in  his  search  after  cheap  fuel,  by  pointing  out  to  him  the  proba- 
ble depth  at  which  other  seams  might  be  reached,  if  he  were  dissatisfied 
with  the  one  which  showed  itself  at  the  surface  level;  giving  also  the 
comparative  analytical  results  of  different  coals,  some  suitable  for  fur- 
naces or  blacksmithing,  for  generating  steam  or  heating  apartments, 
and  others  for  the  manufacture  of  coal  oil,  paraffine  candles,  &c. 

3d.  The  Miner  was  further  to  be  assisted  in  his  search  after  Iron  and 
the  production  of  the  best  quality  of  that  valuable  metal.  The  fur- 
nishing of  cheap  and  good  coal  and  iron  was  deemed  of  interest  to  the 
whole  State,  and  therefore,  although  the  mining  of  coal  in  Indiana  may 
be  chiefly  confined  perhaps  to  twenty  or  twenty-two  of  the  south-west- 


alternate  districts  on  the  east  and  west  side  of  the  meridian  line,  and  the  other  districts  to 
be  filled  at  the  next  annual  meeting  of  the  Board. 

"3.  Resolved,  That  those  counties  divided  by  this  meridian  shall  fall  to  that  side  upon 
which  shall  lie  the  greater  portion  of  its  territory." 

In  accordance  with  the  above,  the  sixteen  districts  are  thus  arranged : 

1st.  District — Posey,  Vanderburgh,  Gibson,  Warrick  and  Spencer  counties. 

2d.   District — Pike,  Dubois,  Martin,  Daviess,  Knox  and  Sullivan  counties. 

3d.   District — Perry,  Crawford,  Harrison,  Floyd  and  Washington  counties. 

4th.  District — Orange,  Lawrence,  Jackson,  Greene,  Monroe,  Brown  and  Scott  counties. 

6th.  District — Clark,  Jefferson,  Switzerland,  Jennings,  Ohio  and  Ripley  counties. 

6th.  District — Dearborn,  Franklin,  Decatur,  Bartholomew  and  Rush  counties. 

7th.  District — Johnson,  Shelby,  Morgan  and  Marion  counties. 

8th.  District — Owen,  Clay,  Vigo,  Parke  and  Vermillion  counties. 

9th.  District — Putnam,  Hendricks,  Montgomery  and  Boone  counties. 
10th.  District — Fayette,  Wayne,  Union  and  Henry  counties. 

llth.  District — Randolph,  Delaware,  Madison,  Hamilton,  Hancock,  Tipton  and  Jay  counties. 
12th.  District — Clinton,  Tippecanoe,  Warren,  Fountain,  Benton  and  White  counties. 
13th.  District — Blackford,  Grant,  Huntington,  Wells,  Adams,  Wabash  and  Howard  counties. 
14th.  District — Carroll,  Cass,  Miami,  Fulton,  Pulaski,  Jasper,  Porter  and  Lake  counties. 
15th.  District — Marshall,  LaPorte,  Starke,  St.  Joseph  and  Elkhart  counties. 
16th.  District — Allen,  LaGrange,  Whitley,  DeKalb,  Noble,  Steuben  and  Kosciusko  counties. 


OF    INDIANA.  XI 


ern  counties,  and  the  production  of  iron  to  the  region  of  the  low  coals, 
or  the  swamp  lands,  throughout  some  ten  or  twelve  of  our  northern 
counties,  yet  the  whole  State  is  likely  to  be  benefitted  by  any  informa- 
tion which  would  diminish  the  cost  of  production,  or  improve  the  qual- 
ity of  these  two  articles ;  for  these  reasons  attention  was  to  be  first  di- 
rected to  the  examination  of  the  above  staples. 

4th.  As  being  closely  connected  with  the  solution  of  these  and  simi- 
lar practical  questions,  it  was  deemed  important  also  to  determine  the 
exact  limits  of  each  Geological  Formation,  already  approximately  laid 
down  in  the  reconnoissance  made  over  twenty  years  since  by  the  late 
State  Geologist,  but  now  more  readily  defined  in  detail  in  consequence 
of  the  opening  of  numerous  coal  banks,  stone  quarries,  &c.,  the  expo- 
sures in  railroad  cuts,  as  well  as  the  minute  description  and  limitation 
of  characteristic  fossil  species.  Bearing  upon  the  above  point  would  be 
the  determination  of  areas  over  which  certain  fossil  plants  and  animals 
extended,  as  well  as  the  vertical  range*  they  enjoyed  in  the  pre-adami- 
tic  seas;  just  as  we  might  now  trace  the  prolongation  of  our  Kew  Eng- 
land, Maryland  and  Carolina  oyster  beds  to  their  extreme  southern  limit, 
follow  the  warmth-loving  coral  to  its  highest  northern  latitude,  or 
dredge  the  ocean  to  know  at  what  number  of  fathoms  in  depth  any 
given  species  of  its  inhabitants  ceased  to  be  found. 

5th.  The  instructions  were  held  in  view  to  ascertain  any  facts  bearing 
on  the  mysterious  disease  variously  termed  milk-sickness,  slows,  tires 
and  trembles,  particularly  such  as  might  point  to  some  connection  with 
geological  peculiarities  affecting  soil,  water,  vegetation  and  the  like ; 

*To  verify  the  topographical  heights  in  this  connection  and  for  similar  purposes,  I  carried 
constantly  the  Aneroid  Barometer.  I  found  it  worked  well  and  was  to  be  relied  upon  when- 
ever the  weather  was  somewhat  settled,  and  the  instrument  was  guarded  from  exposure  to 
the  sun.  To  enable  me  to  work  out,  after  my  return  home,  the  necessary  corrections  for 
changes  in  the  weight  of  the  atmosphere,  irrespective  of  level,  Dr.  A.  Clapp,  kindly  under- 
took to  make,  during  the  continuance  of  the  fall  reconnoissance,  tri-daily  observations  refer- 
able to  low  water  in  the  Ohio  river,  at  New  Albany,  the  height  of  which  above  high  tide  in 
the  Gulf  of  Mexico  is  known.  Latterly  these  corrections  were  made  from  observations  con- 
ducted under  the  direction  of  the  late  State  Geologist,  at  New  Harmony,  during  our  absence 
in  the  field.  Some  heights  were  verified  by  a  comparison  with  tables  obtained  from  a  work 
of  Charles  Ellet,  Esq.,  on  the  Physical  Geography  of  the  Mississippi  Valley,  published  in  the 
"Smithsonian  Contributions  to  Knowledge."  Other  hypsometrical  facts  were  also  courte- 
ously furnished  from  the  railroad  and  canal  surveys;  still  many  points  remain,  the  deter- 
mination of  whose  exact  topography  and  altitude  would  throw  much  light  on  geological  in- 
vestigations;  indeed,  as  often  remarked  by  the  late  State  Geologist,  it  is  highly  important  in 
a  survey,  that  stratigraphical  investigations  should  be  aided  by  topography,  rather  than  de- 
pend wholly  on  palaeontology;  and  it  was  for  the  purpose  of  demonstrating  this,  that  the 
valuable  services  of  Mr.  Lesley  were  secured  and  employed  in  a  prominent  coal  region,  Perry 
county. 


XII  GEOLOGICAL    RECONNOISSANCE 

but  unfortunately  the  testimony  given  was  often  conflicting,  sometimes 
vague  and  unsatisfactory;  such  items,  however,  as  could  be  elicited  will 
be  found  noted. 

6th.  It  was  considered  important  and  useful  to  examine  and  report 
on  the  numerous  quarries  throughout  the  State  from  which  building 
materials  are,  or  could  be,  obtained.  To  render  this  investigation  of  the 
highest  practical  value,  specimens  should  be  submitted  to  repeated  and 
severe  trials  for  strength,  durability,  &c.;  and  then  at  least  approximate 
decisions  could  be  furnished  from  the  laboratory,  whereas,  without  them 
or  similar  tests,  samples  would  otherwise  demand  years  of  natural  ex- 
posure for  the  determination  of  their  relative  qualities.  The  same  ap- 
plies to  materials  for  the  construction  of  roads  and  various  engineering 
purposes. 

7th.  The  examination  for  other  metals  than  iron,  such  as  lead,  zinc, 
copper,  silver  and  gold.  Particularly  regarding  the  latter,  information 
was  desired  by  many  in  order  to  know  whether  they  would  be  justified 
in  continuing  their  washings  or  even  in  risking  capital  for  the  appara- 
tus, implements,  aqueducts,  &c.,  sometimes  necessary  for  the  successful 
prosecution  of  this  work. 

8th.  A  report  on  the  clays  suitable  for  pottery,  fire  or  other  superior 

•brick;    on   limestones  having  hydraulic  properties,  or  even  superior 

adaptation  to  the  manufacture  of  lime;  on  marls  suitable  for  making 

artificial  rock,  for  fertilizing,  &c. ;  on  gypsum,  salt  boring,  and  a  variety 

of  similar  items. 

9th.  Information  regarding  Artesian  wells,  and  where  they  may  be 
attempted  with  fair  prospect  of  success;  the  analysis  of  medicinal 
waters  and  report  on  their  applicability  to  the  cure  of  various  diseases. 
In  some  regions,  particularly  near  summit  levels,  there  is  often  an  anx- 
ious enquiry  as  to  the  obtaining  of  better  water  than  they  possess,  by 
deeper  digging  or  boring:  on  these  points  tho  geologist,  after  due  ex- 
aminations regarding  dip,  &c.,  is  qualified  to  advise  with  considerable 
precision. 

10th.  The  Natural  History  of  the  country  might  well  justify  some  ex- 
amination and  report  regarding  the  quality  of  timber,  and  its  relation 
to  geological  peculiarities  of  soil,  the  prevalence  of  certain  plants,  ani- 
mals, &c. 

llth.  Some  useful  practical  inferences  might  be  drawn  from  an  ex- 
hibit of  the  formation  of  our  prairies  and  swamp  lands,  regarding  the 
best  mode  of  drainage,  improvement  and  the  like. 

12th.  Under  the  head  of  Miscellaneous  Facts  or  Statistics  many  items 


OP  INDIANA.  XIII 


might  be  mentioned  strictly  within  the  field  of  geological  investigation, 
or  at  all  events  as  useful  and  interesting  for  observation,  if  time  and 
means  permitted.  Suffice  it  to  cite,  as  samples,  the  record  of  facts 
bearing  upon  the  geographical  distribution  of  hog-cholera,  potato-rot, 
the  Canada  thistle  and  other  injurious  weeds,  grain  destroying  birds, 
the  Hessian  fly,  grain  moth,  army  worm,  fruit  tree  or  timber  borers  and 
similar  objects,  so  as  at  least  to  know  whether  any  were  peculiar  to  cer- 
tain geological  districts,  or  were  strictly  bounded  by  lines  of  latitude 
and  longitude.  By  the  collection  and  diffusion  of  such  information  we 
might  hope  to  aid  the  farmer  in  the  selection  of  his  crop  for  a  given 
locality,  or  perhaps  to  induce  him  to  modify  to  some  extent  the  period 
of  his  thrashing  grain  or  cutting  timber,  &c. 

Sometimes,  too,  I  may  here  remark,  it  is  not  so  much  that  facts  re. 
garding  for  instance  a  coal  bank,  a  deposit  of  iron  ore,  a  rock  quarry  or 
the  like,  are  new  and  unknown  in  their  immediate  neighborhood,  as 
that  such  information  has  not  been  diffused ;  whereas  it  ought  to  be 
disseminated  through  the  State  for  the  benefit  of  our  citizens,  as  well  as 
published  out  of  the  State  to  induce  actual  settlers  to  improve  our  va- 
cant lands,  and  attract  capitalists  to  work  up  our  raw  materials;  the 
facts  and  statements  thus  receiving,  after  critical  investigation  on  the 
part  of  the  geologist,  disinterested  verification  and  authentic  publicity 
through  the  medium  of  an  official  report. 

I  am  well  aware  that  the  present  appropriation  of  $5,000  would  only 
suffice  to  make  a  beginning  in  examinations  so  extensive  as  the  above, 
especially  when  we  consider  that  the  accurate  analysis  of  a  set  of  soils, 
upon  the  very  satisfactory  and  reliable  methods  pursued  by  Dr.  Peter, 
of  Lexington,  for  the  surveys  of  Kentucky  and  Arkansas,  can  not  be 
made,  even  at  the  moderate  per  diem  charged  by  that  distinguished 
chemist,  at  a  less  cost  than  from  fifteen  to  twenty  dollars  for  each  set  of 
three,  virgin,  surface  and  sub-soil.  The  minute  quantitative  analysis  of 
a  single  soil,  submitted  separately  to  almost  any  good  chemist,  would 
cost  fully  double  that  amount.  When  we  further  reflect  that  even  at 
our  census  of  1850  we  had  nearly  100,000  farms  cultivated  and  yet  more 
than  half  of  our  lands  unimproved,  with  an  area  of  33,809  square  miles, 
comprising  ninety-two  counties,  we  can  readily  see  how  much  practica- 
ble and  profitable  work  there  is  to  be  done.  But  holding  the  rank  in 
population  and  resources  which  our  State  is  shown  to  possess  according 
to  the  partial  census  returns  of  1860  already  reported,  it  does  not  seem 
unreasonable  to  hope  that  Indiana  may  one  day  emulate  her  sister 
States.  '  '• 


XIV  GEOLOGICAL  RECONNOISSANCE 

Meantime,  however,  in  order  to  obtain  the  greatest  amount  of  useful 
practical  information,  with  the  means  at  our  command,  primary  atten- 
tion was  paid,  as  above  stated,  to  the  development  of  those  pre-emi- 
nently useful  minerals,  coal  and  iron ;  notes  on  the  other  subjects  enu- 
merated being  taken  incidentally  when  passing  from  one  point  to  an- 
other. This  may  serve  as  some  explanation  or  apology  to  those  five  or 
six  counties  which  were  not  reached,  as  well  as  to  some  others  which 
received  but  a  passing  or  partial  investigation.  If  any  examinations 
were  neglected  which  could  have  been  prosecuted,  all  the  circumstances 
considered,  the  neglect  was  certainly  not  intentional  and  it  is  hoped  will 
therefore  be  excused. 

The  above  being  the  construction  put  upon  the  duties  to  be  perform- 
ed, and  the  hope  being  entertained  that  circumstances  might  favor  more 
varied  and  extended  research  the  efforts  of  our  corps  were  directed, 
during  the  spring  and  fall  field- work  of  1860,  chiefly  to  the  examination 
of  the  coal  openings,  beds,  banks,  shafts  or  pits  in  the  twenty-two* 
counties  from  which  that  valuable  combustible  had  been  mined  or  raised, 
and  to  the  defining  of  the  coal-field  limit,  particularly  so  as  to  ascertain 
its  greatest  eastern  workable  extension,  its  western  boundary  reaching 
into  Illinois,  Mr.  Lesquereux  having  been  engaged,  in  consequence  of 
his  intimate  acquaintance  with  Fossil  Botany,  and  long  experience  in 
the  eastern  coal  fields,  to  decide  on  the  identity  or  the  distinctive  differ- 
ence of  the  seams  inspected  while  we  were  associated  in  our  examina- 
tions, it  will  be  unneccessary  for  me  to  report  on  the  same,  except,  per- 
haps, regarding  the  analysis,  economic  value,  and  the  like,  of  different 
coal  beds.  Our  attention  was  also  directed  to  such  an  examination  of 
the  chief  iron  localities,  partly  in  the  coal  field,  partly  in  swampy  lands 
of  some  northern  counties,  as  would  enable  a  corps  to  trace  them  more 
readily  in  detail  hereafter.  Such  samples  as  time  permitted  were  sub- 
mitted to  chemical  analysis. 

The  result  of  the  above  general  exploration  or  rapid  reconnoissance 
of  1859,  and  the  facts  ascertained  in  the  detailed  survey  thus  commenced 
in  1860,  it  has  been  the  endeavor  to  embody  in  such  language  as  it 
was  hoped  would  be  intelligible  even  to  the  general  reader  who  can  not 
usually  be  supposed  to  have  devoted  much  previous  attention  to  the 
science  of  geology. 

To  carry  out  this  view,  it  was  thought  appropriate  to  define  such  tech- 

*Two  of  these  counties,  affording  chiefly  sub-conglomerate  coal,  are  not  embraced  in  the 
description  of  the  counties  situated  in  the  Coal  Measures  proper ;  they  will  be  found  under 
the  head  of  sub-carboniferous  limestone  counties. 


OF  INDIANA.  XV 


nicalities,  as  it  was  sometimes  considered  necessary  to  employ,  when 
these  seemed  better  calculated  to  express  the  ideas  designed  to  be  con- 
veyed than  could  be  done  by  language  more  vague  or  less  purely  geo- 
logical. 

The  full  execution  of  this  design  seemed  even  to  justify  the  devoting 
of  a  few  pages,  under  the  head  of  "Preliminary  Observations,"  to  a 
brief  exposition  of  the  more  prominent  principles  upon  which  that 
useful  and  attractive  science,  geology,  is  based. 

If  the  appropriation  for  printing  and  illustrating  the  report  had  been 
considered  as  permitting  the  execution  of  all  necessary  maps,  sections 
and  illustrative  sketches,  together  with  the  plates  giving  the  most  char- 
acteristics fossils  of  each  period,  such  as,  if  means  permit,  should  al- 
ways accompany  a  geological  report,  the  attempted  explanations  and 
descriptions  might  have  been  rendered  much  more  intelligible,  espe- 
cially in  connection  with  an  appended  glossary  and  tabular  views,  which 
could  be  consulted  where  unexplained  terms  occurred.  This  may  to 
Borne  seem  a  useless  expense;  but  the  miner,  the  agriculturalist,  and  the 
general  reader  can  not  be  expected  to  provide  themselves  with  expen- 
sive text-books*  in  science,  or  to  be  posted  in  technicalities  other  than 
those  employed  in  their  own  department ;  yet  these  readers  constitute 

*For  the  benefit  of  those  desiring  to  examine  the  principals  and  facts  of  Geology  in  a 
somewhat  extensive  course,  it  may  be  permitted  to  suggest  the  following  works  for  perusal, 
beginning  with  the  enumeration  of  the  easiest  first:  General  Geology.  Some  articles  on  Geo- 
ology,  written  for  the  "Indiana  Farmer,"  may  perhaps  prepare  the  way  for  others,  such  as 
Prof.  St.  John's  Elements  or  Prof.  Emmon's  small  work,  Prof.  Hitchcock's  Geology,  or  Page's 
or  Chamber's.  Then  should  follow  Sir  Charles  Lyell's  "Elements,"  also  his  "Principles," 
or  Ansted  or  De  La  Beche;  the  whole  study  being  much  aided  by  the  use  of  Prof.  Hall's 
"Chart  of  the  Geological  Formations,"  and  a  reference  to  the  various  State  Geological  reports. 

Special  Geology.  Dr.  Mantell's  "Medals  of  Creation,"  for  the  study  of  palaeontology  in  all 
formations,  or  Prof.  Pictet's  Palaeontology  for  those  who  read  French,  as  the  work  is  not 
translated.  Prof.  Hall's  volumes  on  the  Palaeontology  of  New  York  are  admirable  for  the 
study  of  United  States  poleozoic  fossils;  Sedgwick  and  McCoy,  or  Murchison,  or  Verneuil  for 
European  organic  remains  of  the  Silurian  strata;  Phillips  and  Hugh  Miller  for  the  Devonian ; 
DeKoninck's  fossil  animals  of  Belgium,  also  the  Kentucky  Reports  are  excellent  for  the  Car- 
boniferous system  ;  Dr.  Morton,  Messrs.  Conrad  and  Lea,  for  the  American  cretaceous  fossils, 
Mantell  for  European  cretaceous,  Dr.  Grateloup  for  the  Miocene  Tertiary  of  Europe,  and  the 
work  of  the  late  Prof.  Tuomey  and  Prof.  Holmes,  of  Alabama,  on  the  Tertiary  of  the  United 
States.  To  go  yet  more  into  detail,  Barrande  and  Burmeister  have  fully  examined  the  Trilo- 
bites,  D'Orbigny,  Austin,  Raumer  and  Miller  the  Crinoids;  Woodward's  Manuel  is  admirable 
for  recent  and  fossil  shells,  and  Davidson  for  his  Specialty,  the  Brachiopods;  Brongniart, 
Lindley  and  Hutton,  and  Gainitz  are  standard  authority  on  fossil  plants ;  Dana  or  Edwards 
and  Haime  on  corals;  Agassiz  and  Gould's  Principles  of  Zoology  should  be  read  as  introduc- 
tory to  the  study  of  palaeontology,  or  Ruschenberger's  Natural  History,  then  Prof.  Owen's 
small  work  on  the  skeleton  and  teeth;  or  for  a  more  extended  course  of  comparative  Physiolo- 
gy, Carpenter's  work,  or  the  General  Structure  of  the  Animal  Kingdom,  by  Thos.  R.  Jones, 
besides  other  valuable  works  too  extensive  to  be  here  enumerated. 


YVI  GEOLOGICAL   RECONNOISSANCE. 

a  large  class,  who,  it  is  hoped,  may  derive  profit  and  pleasure  from  the 
survey  and  its  report.  It  is  perhaps  better  to  repeat  somewhat  similar 
language  twice,  or  to  give  popular  terms  in  addition  to  scientific,  rather 
than  be  misunderstood ;  and  the  brief  statement  of  principles  can  readily 
be  passed  over  without  perusal  by  those  already  posted  in  Geology. 

The  design  being,  as  already  remarked,  to  make  such  a  statement  of 
well  ascertained  facts  as  might  benefit  the  miner  or  mechanic  in  devel- 
oping the  mineral  wealth  of  our  State,  and  also  to  throw  light  on  the 
operations  of  the  agriculturalist,  by  pointing  out,  after  accurate  analy- 
sis, the  peculiarities  of  soil  resulting  from  different  geological  forma- 
tions and  their  consequent  adaptation  to  different  crops;  by  disclosing, 
through  the  same  source,  the  ingredients  lost  by  cultivation  and  the 
means  of  renovating  worn  soils,  or  of  rendering  others  still  more  pro- 
ductive, it  seemed  not  unreasonable  to  conceive  that  the  statements 
made  would  inspire  more  confidence  in  the  minds  of  those  unacquainted 
with  the  minutiae  of  Geology,  if  some  account  were  previously  given  of 
the  general  principles  and  methods  by  which  Geologists  arrive  at  facts 
or  data  in  their  explorations,  as  well  as  conclusions  in  their  reasoning  de- 
duced from  those  data,  carefully  separating  any  mere  theories,  or  opin- 
ions advanced,  from  facts  or  truths  well  established  by  repeated  obser- 
vations, and  acknowled  as  such  by  the  great  mass  of  geologists,  perhaps 
by  all. 

After  a  brief  discussion  of  principles  and  enumeration  of  the  geolog- 
ical formations  constituting  the  earth's  crust,  a  few  words  seemed  in 
place  regarding  the  geographical  distribution  of  those  rocks  over  the 
globe,  with  a  somewhat  more  extended  notice  of  their  predominating 
prevalence  in  different  parts  of  the  United  States. 

This  prepares  us  for  a  more  full  understanding  and  appreciation  of 
such  formations  as  are  found  in  Indiana  generally;  leading  us  gradu- 
ally and  intelligibly  to  the  details  of  county  geology. 

Some  general  remarks  suggested  by  a  comparison  of  the  collated 
facts  obtained  in  the  brief  detailed  examinations  which  time  permitted, 
have  been  reserved  for  description  after  giving  the  data  upon  which 
they  are  based;  such  theoretical  remarks,  (designed,  however,  also  as 
practical  deductions,)  admitting  thus  of  more  ready  acceptance  or  re- 
jection. 

Pursuant  to  the  instructions  and  plan  exhibited  above,  I  now  proceed 
to  offer  the  following  Report : 


REPORT 


OF   A 


GEOLOGICAL  RECONNOISSANCE 


BY  EICHARD  OWEN,  M.  D. 


CHAPTER  I. 


PRELIMINARY   OBSERVATIONS. 

Let  us  suppose  a  Geologist  to  be  transported  to  a  mass  of  rocks, 
even  in  a  distant  and  foreign  country,  where  the  ledges  or  layers  ex- 
posed are  so  continuous  as  to  show  that  they  are  in  the  position  origi- 
nally occupied,  perhaps  ages  gone-by,  technically  termed  in  situ.  That 
Geologist,  particularly  if  well  versed  in  palaeontology,  or  a  knowledge 
of  ancient  beings,  will  soon  be  enabled  to  say,  by  an  inspection  of  these 
rocks,  supposing  them  to  contain,  as  most  aqueous  rocks  do,  some 
petrifactions  or  organic  remains,  whether  these  were  deposited  after  or 
before  the  coal-bearing  period,  consequently  whether  or  not,  by  digging 
there,  there  is  a  probability  of  finding  valuable  coal  deposits.  This 
and  similar  facts  he  can  predict,  not  by  divining  rods,  not  by  "exorci- 
sing spirits  from  the  vasty  deep,"  or  any  black  arts,  but  by  applying  to 
practice  some  general  geological  principles  or  ascertained  truths,  such 
as  these:  That  certain  animals  and  plants  occupied  the  earth's  surface 
and  afterwards  became  extinct,  leaving  their  organic  remains,  or  at  least 
traces  of  their  forms,*  in  the  subsequently  solidifying  rocks ;  and  that 
to  these  animals  and  plants  succeeded  another  set,  having  such  marked 
differences  as  to  be  classed  under  species  distinct  from  the  former,  per- 
haps to  constitute  eve&  different  genera.  The  sedimentary  or  aqueous 
rocks,  in  which  these  organic  remains  are  found,  derive  their  name 

*  These  organic  remains  are  generally  termed  Jossils;  and  for  the  space  left  exhibiting  only 
the  form,  when  the  organic  substance  wholly  disappears,  as  is  sometimes  the  case,  particu- 
larly in  Magnesian  limestones,  the  word  cast  is  used.  The  true  geological  meaning  of  petri- 
faction is  the  same  as  fossil,  although  in  common  language  the  term  is  sometimes  applied  to 
a  mere  incrustation  or  deposition,  usually  of  carbonate  of  lime,  around  the  animal  or  vegeta- 
ble. In  a  fossil  the  organic  body,  animal  or  vegetable,  is  replaced,  to  a  greater  or  less  extent, 
by  inorganic  or  mineral  matter,  often  silicious  and  calcareous  in  character,  sometimes  alum- 
inous, or  even  metallic,  through  chemical  decomposition,  recomposition  and  infiltration.  An- 
imals and  vegetables  are  called  organic  bodies  or  organisms,  because  they  have  special  or- 
gans, such  as  those  of  nutrition,  &c.,  to  develop  their  growth  or  sustain  life,  whereas  inorganie 
or  mineral  bodies  only  add  to  their  growth  by  accretion  or  the  deposition  of  additional  similar 
particles  around  the  original  nucleus. 
1 


GEOLOGICAL   RECONNOISSANCE 


from  the  supposition  that  they  were  originally  deposited  as  sediment 
from  water,  Latin  aqua;  their  distinctive  lithological  or  stony  character 
they  receive  from  the  different  particles,  siliceous,  aluminous,  &c.,  thus 
carried  down  from  off  the  high  igneous  mountains,  (the  formation  of 
which  is  hereafter  explained,)  into  the  lower  portion  of  the  earth's  crust, 
and  there  deposited  until  fitted  for  animal  and  vegetable  life.  At  the 
close  of  certain  periods,  sometimes  perhaps  after  thousands  of  years, 
the  whole  of  these  organisms,  the  flora  and  fauna,  or  plants  and  ani- 
mals, as  already  alluded  to,  gradually,  and  apparently  often  quietly, 
(but  sometimes  suddenly  and  with  evidence  of  terrestial  convulsion,) 
died  out  and  were  imbedded  in  the  clays,  sands,  mud,  &c.,  of  that  epoch, 
to  be  covered  afterwards  by  accumulations  of  somewhat  differing  mate- 
rials. By  the  pressure  of  these  incumbent  masses,  as  well  as  by  the 
cementing  power  of  some  of  the  infiltering  materials,  aided  perhaps  by 
heat  and  electricity,  these  lower  strata  were  consolidated  into  stratified 
rocks,  (those  having  regular  layers  or  strata,)  some  furnishing  no  evi- 
dence of  animal  or  vegetable  existence,  but  the  majority,  at  least  of  the 
somewhat  later  deposits,  containing  fossils  or  organic  remains,  and 
hence  being  termed  fossiliferous  rocks. 

The  great  law  of  the  difference  in  the  organic  remains  of  successive 
layers  of  strata,  amounting,  as  already  stated,  usually  to  a  specific  dif- 
ference, often  to  a  generic  and  sometimes  to  a  marked  distinction  of 
order,  class  and  department,  as  hereafter  also  explained,  is  the  science 
lately  developed  and  now  being  studied  under  the  name  of  Palseontol- 
ogy.  A  thorough  knowledge  of  these  minute  distinctions  is,  however, 
the  study  of  a  lifetime,  inasmuch  as  in  the  department  of  the  Mollus- 
cous animals  alone,  (sometimes  called  shell-fish,)  there  are  15,000  fossil 
species  and  12,000  recent.  But  its  importance  can  scarcely  be  over-esti- 
mated, when  we  consider  that  the  earth's  crust  has  been  found  made  up 
of  very  similar  successions  of  aqueous  strata,  at  parts  the  most  remote 
from  each  other  and  characterized  by  a  sequence  of  animal  and  vegeta- 
ble remains  having  many  points  of  resemblance  in  common.  Nor  has 
this  regular  succession  (except  locally  over  a  small  area  evidently  dis- 
turbed,) ever  been  found  in  an  inverted  order,  such  as  would  place,  for 
instance,  the  Mastodon  in  an  early  deposit,  with  a  large  number  of  tri- 
lobites  in  strata  above,  evidently  of  more  recent  deposition.  As  this 
has  never  been  found  to  be  the  case,  although  occasionally  some  of  the 
intervening  members  or  even  a  whole  system  may  be  absent,  (either 
because  circumstances  did  not  favor  the  formation  or  because  after 
deposition,  perhaps  before  thorough  consolidation,  subsequent  washings 


OF   INDIANA.  5 


carried  off  some  layers  from  considerable  areas,  leaving  a  valley  of 
deundation,)  we  consider  ourselves  justified  in  expecting  to  find  this 
law  hold  good  universally.  Here  it  seems  necessary  to  digress  long 
enough  to  offer  some  explanation  of  the  principles  upon  which  these 
specific,  generic  and  other  distinctions  are  based. 

The  classification  generally  adopted,  in  modern  times,  depends  upon 
the  internal  structure  of  the  animal  or  plant,  which  is  found  to  be 
much  more  important  than  the  difference  or  resemblance  in  external 
appearance.  The  basis,  therefore,  of  zoological  or  animal  classification, 
first  into  great  divisions  or  departments,  and  afterwards  into  minor 
sub-divisions,  depends  upon  the  most  important  organs,  or  sets  of 
organs,  termed  a  system.  Thus  the  nervous  system,  or  particular  plan 
on  which  the  nerves  are  arranged,  giving  energy  and  vitality  to  the 
whole  being,  forms  the  ground-work  for  Cuvier's  great  division  into 
four  departments. 

The  sub-division  of  these  departments  into  classes  is  dependent  to  a 
great  extent,  on  difference  in  the  circulatory  or  respiratory  systems,  in 
other  words,  on  the  manner  in  which  the  animal  breathes  and  has  its 
blood  purified.  Further  sub-divisions  into  orders  are  often  founded, 
especially  among  the  more  highly  organized  animals,  on  differences  in 
the  nutritive  system  or  mode  of  receiving  and  converting  food  to  nour- 
ish the  animal  economy.  This  usually  involves  a  variation  in  the  form 
of  the  teeth,*  hence  their  paleeontological  importance.  More  minute 
sub-divisions  into  genera,  (the  plural  of  genus,  a  latin  word  signifying 
origin,  stock,  family  or  kind,)  are  sometimes  dependent  on  variations 
in  the  locomotive  or  in  the  prehensile  organs,  designed  to  enable  the 
animal  to  move  about  and  to  obtain  food,  such  as  feet,  fins,  wings, 
feelers,  tentacJes,  and  the  like.  At  other  times  these  generic  groupings, 
particularly  of  lower  animals,  throw  together  species  having  a  resem- 

*The  great  Cuvier,  in  his  work  on  Fossil  Remains,  has  the  following  observations  bearing 
on  this  point:  "Every  organized  being  forms  an  entire  system  of  its  own,  all  the  parts  of 
which  mutually  correspond  and  concur  to  produce  a  certain  definite  purpose  by  reciprocal 
action  or  by  combining  to  the  same  end.  Hence  none  of  these  separate  parts  can  change 
their  forms  without  a  corresponding  change  in  other  parts  of  the  same  animal ;  and  conse- 
quently each  of  these  parts,  taken  separately,  indicates  all  the  other  parts  to  which  it  has 
belonged.  Thus,  if  the  viscera  of  an  animal  are  so  organized  as  only  to  be  fitted  for  the 
digestion  of  recent  flesh,  it  is  also  requisite  that  the  jaws  should  be  so  constructed  as  to  fit 
them  for  devouring  prey ;  the  claws  must  be  constructed  for  seizing  it  and  tearing  it  to 
pieces  ;  the  teeth  for  cutting  and  dividing  its  flesh;  the  entire  system  of  limbs  or  organs  of 
motion  for  pursuing  and  overtaking  it ;  and  the  organs  of  sense  for  discovering  it  at  a  dis- 
tance. Nature  must  also  have  endowed  the  brain  of  the  animal  with  instincts  sufficient  for 
concealing  itself  and  for  laying  plans  to  catch  its  necessary  victims." 


6  GEOLOGICAL   KECONNOlSSAffCTE 

blance  in  the  form  of  shell  or  hinge  teeth,  of  the  crustaceous  covering, 
of  the  horny  or  calcareous  framework,  &c.,  but  these  frequently  indi- 
cate also  similarity  in  anatomical  .structure  and  should  rarely,  if  ever, 
be  employed  for  classification,  unless  thus  characterized.  Animals  that 
naturally  breed  together  or  have  minute  characteristics  alike,  which  are 
not  liable  to  change,  are  usually  considered  of  the  same  species,  (Latin 
for  appearance,  quality.)  When  changes  arise  from  accidental  causes 
and  are  not  likely  to  be  so  permanent,  but  that  circumstances  may 
again  modify  them,  or  when  the  intermediate  gradations  can  be  traced 
between  the  two  organisms  thus  differing,  then  the  term  variety  is  used 
in  the  animal  as  well  as  in  the  vegetable  world. 

As  a  diversity  of  opinion  exists  regarding  the  origin  of  the  specific, 
generic  and  other  difference  above  alluded  to,  and  as  a  considerable 
amount  of  controversy  has  latterly  been  elicited  on  the  subject,  it  may 
not  be  out  of  place  to  state  briefly  the  antagonistic  views,  the  bearing 
of  neither,  however,  affecting  materially  the  utility,  or  diminishing  the 
certainty,  of  the  observed  palseontological  records,  as  tests  of  the  rela- 
tive ages  of  any  given  rocks,  which  present  a  sufficient  amount  of 
organic  remains  in  a  moderately  well-preserved  state. 

Darwin,  a  naturalist  long  and  favorably  known  in  the  scientific 
world,  has  published  a  work  designed  to  show  that  all  organic  beings 
have  a  tendency  to  reproduce  themselves  in  a  geometrical  ratio;  but 
that,  from  various  conflicting  causes,  only  a  small  number  in  this 
"struggle  for  life,"  of  those  endowed  with  a  structural  or  functional 
difference,  usually  somewhat  superior,  reaches  maturity.  This  differ- 
ence, imparted  to  the  offspring,  again  influences  the  new  variety,  caus- 
ing further  improvement;  which  general  fact  or  law,  operating  from 
the  beginning,  he  considers  sufficient  to  produce  not  only  varieties,  but 
the  distinctions  we  assign  to  species,  genera,  orders,  &c.,  and  conse- 
quently he  thinks  that  all  organisms,  living  and  extinct,  animal  and 
vegetable,  have  proceeded  from  the  simplest  primordial  or  original 
form  of  life. 

The  celebrated  Agassiz,  on  the  other  hand,  in  extracts,  given  in  the 
July  number  of  Silliman's  Journal  for  1860,  from  the  advance  sheets 
of  his  "contributions  to  the  Natural  History  of  the  United  States," 
thus  states  his  opposite  views:  "I  have  attempted  to  show  that 
branches,"  (a  division  equivalent  to  departments  formerly  used  by  him, 
and  to  sub-kingdoms,  used  by  Prof.  R.  Owen,  of  London,)  "in  the  ani- 
mal kingdom  are  founded  upon  different  plans  of  structure  and  for  that 
very  reason  have  embraced  from  the  beginning  representatives  between 


OF 


which  there  could  be  no  community  of  orgin ;  that  classes  are  founded 
upon  different  modes  of  execution  of  these  plans,  and  therefore  they 
also  embrace  representatives  which  could  have  no  community  of  ori- 
gin ;  that  orders  represent  the  different  degrees  of  complication  in  the 
mode  of  execution  of  each  class,  and  therefore  embrace  representatives 
which  could  not  have  a  community  of  origin  any  more  than  the  mem- 
bers of  different  classes  and  branches ;  that  families  are  founded  upon 
different  patterns  of  form,  and  embrace  representatives  equally  inde- 
pendent in  their  origin ;  that  genera  are  founded  upon  peculiarities  of 
structure,  embracing  representatives  which,  from  the  very  nature  of 
their  peculiarities,  could  have  no  community  of  origin ;  and  that 
finally,  species  are  based  upon  relations  and  proportions  that  exclude, 
as  much  as  all  the  preceding  distinctions,  the  idea  of  a  common  de- 
scent." 

Let  us  now  return  from  this  digression,  regarding  the  best  mode  of 
classifying  organic  remains,  to  the  re-enunciation  of  the  great  law. 

"Whatever  may  be  the  original  cause  of  the  differences  observed, 
whether  created  thus  distinctly  by  a  periodical  interposition  of  Divine 
fiat,  or  so  modified  by  an  eternal  and  immutable  law  of  the  same  Om- 
nipotence, as  to  produce,  through  physical  changes  in  the  inorganic 
elements  of  the  earth,  corresponding  modifications  of  structural 
adaptation  to  the  new  external  circumstances,  the  important  fact  still 
remains  an  unquestioned  truth,  that  a  certain  vertical  range,  or  ascer- 
tained thickness  of  fossiliferous  rock,  is  characterized  by  the  organic  remains 
of  plants  and  animals,  differing  more  or  less  from  the  plants  and  animals 
in  the  rocks  above,  as  well  as  those  in  the  rocks  below  the  given  layers  or 
strata ;  just  as  the  hieroglyphics  and  coins  of  one  nation,  while  having 
some  characters  in  common,  are  found  differing  from  those  of  another 
nation  preceding  or  succeeding  it. 

To  the  vertical  range  of  beds  having  thus  something  in  common, 
(even  if  persistent  as  regards  a  given  thickness  only  over  a  moderately 
extended  horizontal  area,  thickening  or  perhaps  thinning  out  beyond 
that  limit,)  geologists  give  the  name  periods,  systems,  formations  and 
the  like,  prefixing  some  adjective  explanatory  either  of  the  geographi- 
cal prevalence  somewhere  in  that  sub-division,  or  of  its  lithological 
peculiarity.  Thus  the  beds  below  the  Coal  Period,  and  deposited 
before  it,  are  often  called  the  "  Devonian  system,"  because  developed  in 
Devonshire,  England,  or  sometimes  "Old  Ked  Sandstone,"  because, 
where  first  studied,  its  lithological  character  was  that  of  a  sandstone 
highly  colored  with  peroxide  of  iron. 


8  GEOLOGICAL  RECONNOISSANCE 

But  in  the  same  manner  that  all  the  coins  of  one  nation  might  have 
something  in  common  and  yet  those  of  each  dynasty  or  successive 
reign,  differ  in  certain  particulars,  so  too  the  separate  geological  strata 
of  a  period,  while  presenting  a  general  resemblance  in  animal  and  veg- 
etable form  of  organic  remains,  may  yet  have  minor  distinctions,  in  the 
separate  component  deposits,  justifying  a  sub-division  into  subordinate 
members,  such  as  "  upper,  middle,  lower,"  and  the  like.  To  carry  the 
analogy  still  further,  as  there  may  be  certain  signs  or  words  common  to 
two  of  those  nations,  and  even  similar  to  those  used  at  the  present  day, 
so  there  are  certain  fossils  common  to  several  systems  or  formations 
and  even  existing  at  the  present  day;  the  analogue  being  of  the  same 
genus,  if  not  specifically  identical  with  its  ancient  prototype;  and  as  the 
study  of  these  ancient  relics  requires  en  acquaintance  with  the  key  to 
the  hieroglyphics,  in  like  manner  palaeontology,  to  be  useful,  demands 
a  knowledge  of  minute  distinctive  characters. 

Having  the  above  great  fundamental  law  before  us,  we  have  next  to 
examine  whether  there  is  any  general  law,  (of  progression  or  some 
other  character,)  which  may  aid  us  in  distinguishing  the  organisms  in 
all  the  older  strata  from  those  in  the  newer,  before  we  proceed  to  study 
the  more  minute  differences.  Many  geologists  concede  that  evidence  of 
such  a  law  is  observable  throughout  the  entire  series  of  aqueous  depos- 
its; others  do  not  admit  that  we  have  yet  sufficient  data  for  such  a 
generalization.  A  brief  examination  of  these  points,  bearing  both  on 
vegetable  and  animal  life,  may  lead  to  a  more  thorough  comprehension 
of  the  subject:  it  is  therefore  subjoined. 

Some  animals  are  very  simple  in  their  structure,  consisting  only  of  a 
sack-shaped,  gelatinous  material,  the  opening  to  which  is  furnished 
with  a  few  tentacles,  or  organs  of  feeling  and  motion,  for  the  purpose 
of  enabling  them  to  procure  food;  sometimes  this  is  connected  with  a 
strong  framework  or  skeleton  of  calcareous  matter.  Such  radiates, 
and  some  brachiopod  mollusks,  also  comparatively  simply-formed  ani- 
mals, with  the  nutritive  sack  more  elongated,  and  the  addition  of  a 
liver,  the  whole  usually  protected  by  a  shell  or  shells;  as  also  trilobites, 
crustaceans  not  high  in  the  scale  of  organization,  but  resembling  some 
of  the  earlier  embryonic  stages  of  our  modern  King-crab,  have  thus  far 
been  found  relatively  most  abundant  in  the  early  geological  formations, 
and  are  therefore  supposed  by  most  geologists  to  have  predominated, 
or  to  I  ave  been  comparatively  more  numerous,  soon  after  the  earth 
became  adapted  for  animal  existence,  than  the  highly  organized  ani- 
mals appear  to  have  been.  Thus,  for  instance,  the  corals,  which  consti- 


OF  INDIANA.  9 


tute  the  skeleton  or  framework  of  the  simple,  sack-like  animals  just 
mentioned,  as  well  as  some  species  of  the  bivalve  mollusks  and  trilo- 
bites,  next  alluded  to,  above,  form  whole  rock  masses  in  the  earlier 
layers  of  the  earth's  crust,  presenting  very  much  the  same  appearance 
which  a  coral  reef  or  one  of  our  Atlantic  oyster  beds  would  have,  if 
compressed  by  great  weight  and  the  aid  of  a  natural  cement  into  a 
compact,  solid  mass.  In  the  later  deposits,  overlying  the  former,  we 
find  comparatively  more  of  the  complicated  structures  or  animals,  such 
as  elephants,  mastodons  and  the  like,  having  relatively  more  fully  devel- 
oped the  nutritive,  circulatory,  respiratory  and  nervous  systems,  upon  a 
plan  similar  to  that  found  in  man. 

On  this  subject,  Hugh  Miller,  in  his  "Testimony  of  the  Rocks,"  re- 
marks in  his  usual  powerful  and  appropriate  language:  "It  is  a  mar- 
vellous fact,  whose  full  meaning  we  can  as  yet  but  imperfectly  compre- 
hend, that  myriads  of  ages  ere  there  existed  a  human  mind,  well  nigh 
the  same  principles  of  classification  now  developed  by  man's  intellect 
in  our  better  treatises  of  geology  and  botany,  were  developed  on  this 
earth  by  the  successive  geologic  periods;  and  that  the  by-past  produc- 
tions of  our  planet,  animals  and  vegetables,  were  chronologically 
arranged  in  its  history  according  to  the  same  laws  of  thought  which 
impart  regularity  and  order  to  the  works  of  the  later  naturalists  and 
phytologists."  *  *  *  "  Commencing  at  the  bottom  of  the  scale,  we 
find  the  thallogens  or  flowerless  plants,  which  lack  proper  stems  and 
leaves — a  class  which  includes  all  the  algae.  Next  succeed  the  Aero- 
gens  or  flowerless  plants  that  possess  both  stems  and  leaves — such  as 
the  ferns  and  their  allies.  Next,  omitting  an  inconspicuous  class,  repre- 
sented by  but  a  few  parasitical  plants  incapable  of  preservation  as  fos- 
sils, come  the  endogens — monocotyledonous  flowering  plants  that  in- 
clude the  palms,  the  liliaceae  and  several  other  families,  all  characterized 
by  the  parallel  venation  of  their  leaves.  Next,  omitting  another  incon- 
spicuous tribe,  there  follows  a  very  important  class — the  gymn.ogens — 
polycotyledonous  trees  represented  by  the  con-i  ferae  arid  cycadaceae. 
And  last  of  all  came  the  dicotyledonous  exogens,  a  class  to  which  all 
our  fruit,  and  what  are  known  as  our  'forest  trees'  belong,  with  a 
vastly  preponderating  majority  of  the  herbs  and  flowers  that  impart 
fertility  and  beauty  to  our  gardens  and  meadows.  This  last  class, 
though  but  one,  now  occupies  much  greater  space  in  the  vegetable 
kingdom  than  all  the  others  united." 

"Such  is  the  arrangement  of  Lindley,  or  rather  an  arrangement  the 
slow  growth  cf  ages,  to  which  this  distinguished  botanist  has  given  the 


10 


GEOLOGICAL   RECONNOISSANCE 


last  finishing  touches.  And  let  us  now  mark  how  nearly  it  resembles* 
the  geologic  arrangement,  as  developed  in  the  successive  stages  of  the 
earth's  history."  * 


Silurian. 


Old  Red. 

Carboniferous. 

Permian. 
Triassic. 

Oolitic. 
Cretaceous. 

Tertiary. 

Geologic 
Lindley's 

"THAL.             Ac.                   Gr.                   MON. 
[THAL.             Ac.                   MON.                 GYM 

Thallogens. 

Acrogens. 
G}  mnogens. 


Monocotyledonous 


Dicotyledonous. 


Dicotyledonous 


Die.}  arrangement. 
Die.]  arrangement. 

The  Genealogy  of  Plants." 

*  #  *  "And  such  seems  to  be  the  order  of  classification  in  the 
vegetable  kingdom,  as  developed  in  creation  and  determined  by  the 
geologic  periods." 

"The  parallelism  which  exists  between  the  course  of  creation,  as 
exhibited  in  the  animal  kingdom,  and  the  classification  of  the  greatest 
zoologist  of  modern  times,  is  perhaps  still  more  remarkable.  Cuvier 

*""Tne  horizontal  lines  in  this  diagram  indicate  the  divisions  of  the  various  geologic  sys- 
tems-; the  vertical  lines  the  sweep  of  the  various  classes  or  sub-classes  of  plants  across  the 
geologic  scale,  with,  so  far  as  has  been  yet  ascertained,  the  place  of  their  first  appearance  in 
creation  ;  while  the  double  line  of  type  below  shows  in  what  degree  the  order  of  their  occur- 
rence agrees  with  the  arrangement  of  the  botanist.  The  single  point  of  difference  indicated 
by  the  diagram  between  the  order  of  occurrence  and  that  of  arrangement,  viz.,  the  transpo- 
sition of  the  gymnogenous  and  monocotyledonous  classes,  must  be  regarded  as  purely  provis- 
ional. It  is  definitely  ascertained  that  the  Lower  Old  Red  Sandstone  has  its  coniferous  wood, 
but  not  yet  definitely  ascertained  that  it  has  its  true  monocotyledonous  plants,  though  indi- 
cations are  not  wanting  that  the  latter  were  introduced  upon  the  scene  at  least  as  early  as 
the  pines  or  araucarirns;  and  the  chance  discovery  of  some  fossil  in  a  sufficiently  good  state 
of  keeping  to  determine  the  point,  may,  of  course,  at  once  re-transpose  the  transposition,  and 
bring  into  complete  correspondence  the  geologic  and  botanic  arrangements." 


OF  INDIANA. 


11 


divides  all  animals  into  vertebrate  and  invertebrate;  the  invertebrate 
consisting,  according  to  his  arrangement,  of  three  great  divisions — mol- 
lusca, articulata  and  radiata;  and  the  vertebrates  of  four  great  classes — 
the  mammals,  the  birds,  the  reptiles  and  the  fishes.  From  the  lowest 
zone  at  which  organic  remains  occur,  up  to  the  higher  beds  of  the 
Lower  Silurian  System,  all  the  animal  remains  yet  found  belong  to  the 
invertebrate  divisions.  The  numerous  tables  of  stone,  which  compose 
the  leaves  of  this  first  and  earliest  of  the  geological  volumes,  correspond 
in  their  contents  with  that  concluding  volume  of  Cuvier's  great  work, 
in  which  he  deals  with  the  mollusca  articulata,  and  radiata;  with,  how- 
ever, this  difference,  that  the  three  great  divisions,  instead  of  occurring 
in  a  continuous  series,  are  ranged,  like  the  terrestrial  herbs  and  trees,  in 
parallel  columns.  The  chain  of  animal  being  on  its  first  appearance  is, 
if  I  may  so  express  myself,  a  three-fold  chain;  a  fact  nicely  corres- 
pondent with  the  further  fact,  that  we  cannot  in  the  present  creation 
range  serially,  as  either  higher  or  lower  in  the  scale  at  least  two  of  these 
divisions — the  mollusca  and  articulata." 


Silurian. 
Old  Red. 

Carboniferous. 

Permian. 
Triassic. 

Oolitic. 
Cretaceous. 

Tertiary. 
Recent. 


f 

L  •  '*  .••.. 

I 

STATES.  ARTICULATES.  MOLLUSKS.  FISHES.     REPTILES.    BIRDS.      MAMMALS.      MAN.]  arrangement. 
DIATES.  ARTICULATES.  MOLLUSKS.  FISHES.      REPTILES.    BIRDS.      MAMMALS.      MAN.]  arrangement. 

The   Genealogy  of  Animals" 


12  GEOLOGICAL  RECONNOISSANCE 

After  these  extracts  from  Hugh  Miller's  works,  perhaps  a  few  quota- 
tions from  the  great  comparative  anatomist,  Dr.  Wm.  B.  Carpenter, 
may  not  be  out  of  place,  as  restrictive  of  this  generalization,  which  is 
objected  to  by  some  geologists  as  being  not  yet  fully  proved,  although 
they  admit  the  accuracy  and  importance  of  palaeontology.  He  re- 
marks, in  his  "Principles  of  Comparative  Physiology:"  "The  'idea' 
of  progress  from  the  more  general  to  the  more  special,  which  we  have 
thus  found  to  prevail  alike  in  the  completed  structure  of  the  existing 
types  of  vegetable  and  animal  organization  and  in  the  developmental 
process  by  which  they  attain  it,  may  also  be  traced  in  that  long  series 
of  organic  forms  which  have  successively  appeared  and  disappeared  on 
the  face  of  this  globe,  and  have  finally  given  place  to  those  of  our  own 
epoch.  The  entombment  of  the  remains  of  many  of  these,  in  the 
strata  in  progress  of  formation  at  the  time  of  their  existence,  has  ena- 
bled the  Paleontologist  to  reconstruct,  to  a  certain  extent,  the  Fauna 
and  Flora  ot  each  of  those  great  epochs  in  the  earth's  history,  which 
are  distinctly  marked  out  in  geological  time,  both  by  extensive  disturb- 
ances in  the  earth's  crust,  and  by  striking  changes  in  the  structure  and 
distribution  of  the  living  beings  which  dwelt  upon  it.  Each  of  these 
epochs  was  characterized  by  some  peculiar  forms  or  combinations  of 
forms  of  animal  and  vegetable  life,  which  existed  in  it  alone ;  and  the 
further  we  go  back  from  the  existing  period,  the  wider  are  the  diversi- 
ties which  we  encounter,  both  in  the  general  aspect  of  these  kingdoms 
of  nature,  which  depends  upon  the  relative  proportions  of  their  differ- 
ent subordinate  groups,  and  in  the  features  and  structure  of  the  beings 
composing  these  groups.  The  attempt  has  been  made  to  prove  that 
these  changes  might  be  reduced  to  a  law  of  progressive  development." 
*  *  *  "A  more  satisfactory  account  of  the  succession  of  organic 
life  on  the  surface  of  the  globe,  may  probably  be  found  in  the  general 
plan  which  has  been  shown  to  prevail  in  the  development  of  the  exist- 
ing forms  of  organic  structure;  namely,  the  passage  from  the  more  gen- 
eral to  the  more  special.  This  seems  to  be  manifested  in  two  modes.  In 
the  first  place  we  find  a  certain  class  of  cases  in  which  extinct  animals, 
especially  the  earliest  forms  of  any  class  that  may  be  newly  making  its 
appearance,  present  indications  of  a  closer  conformity  to  'archetypal 
generality'  than  is  shown  in  the  existing  animals  to  which  they  bear 
the  closest  approximation;  and  hence  their  conformity  to  the  latter  is 
closer  in  the  embryo  condition  of  these  than  in  their  fully  developed 
and  more  specialized  state." 

Having  now  examined  the  principles  upon  which  the  distinctions  are 


OF  INDIANA.  13 


based  that  have  given  rise  to  separate  and  distinct  names  for  successive 
geological  layers  of  sedimentary  deposits,  it  will  probably  be  useful  to 
exhibit,  in  a  tabular  form,  for  more  ready  comparison  of  relative  thick- 
ness and  other  distinctive  characters,  the  arrangement  or  classification 
of  the  entire  aqueous  or  sedimentary  period,  into  subordinate  ages,  sys- 
tems, formations,  groups,  members,  or  other  subdivisions,  to  which 
unfortunately,  as  yet  there  are  not  data  sufficient  to  affix  very  definite 
limits  of  time  or  vertical  space.* 

#For  the  Indiana  Farmer  a  suggestive,  approximate  table  was  furnished  by  me,  attempting 
therein  to  attach  definite  ideas  to  those  terms  in  general  use.  This  tabular  view  will  be 
found  in  the  appendix. 


14 


GEOLOGICAL    RECONNOISSANCE 


CHRONOLOGICAL  SUCCESSION  OF  SEDIMENTARY  OR 
AQUEOUS  ROCKS. 

(BEGINNING  WITH  THE  MOST  RECENT  oa  LAST  DEPOSITED.) 


Period,  Formation 
or  System. 

Sub-divisions  into  groups 
or  members. 

Synonyms,  or  terms  used  by  some 
as  equivalent. 

REMARKS. 

r 

Quaternary. 
Tertiary. 

j  Newer. 
1  Older. 

1  Alluvium  or  modern 
or   Historical     pe- 
riods. 
Diluvium,  Bowlder, 
or  erratic  group. 

Remains  of  man  fossil. 

Mammals  abundant. 
Great  Northern  drift,  by    some 
classed  in  the  tertiary  as  pleisto- 
cene. 

j  Newer. 
Pliocene.'   -i 
Older. 

Miocene. 
Eocene. 

Containing  about  95  per  cent,  of 
shells,  identical  with  recent  spe- 
cies. 
Containing  from  35  to  50  per  cent, 
of  shells,  identical  with  recent 
species. 
Containing  about  17  per  cent,  of 
shells,  identical  with  recent  spe- 
cies. 
Containing  about  3>£  per  cent,  of 
shells,  identical  with  recent  spe- 
cies. 

Palaeozotic<  Mesozoic. 

Carboniferous. 

Oolite. 
Lias. 

Trias. 

f  Chalk. 
Gault. 
\  Greensand. 

VWealden. 

Echinoderms  abundant. 

Only  this  member  found  in  the 
United  States. 
Iguanodons  numerous. 

<  Upper. 
I  Lower. 

Jurassic  formation  because  preva- 
lent in  the  Jura  Mountains. 

Upper. 
Middle. 
Lower. 

Huge  reptiles  abundant  in  this 
formation,  also  found  in  the  pre- 
vious. 

(Upper. 
^Middle. 
(Lower. 

fSaliferous. 
New  red  sandsone.  < 
(Poikilitic. 

Gigantic  bird  tracks  in  Connec- 
ticut. 

'Permian. 

Magnesian  limestone. 

Carboniferous. 
Devonian. 

Silurian. 

T  Coal  measures. 
1  Millstone  grit. 

1  Sub-carboniferous  lime- 
l.  stones  and  sandstones. 

Carboniferous  or  coal  conglomer- 
ate. 
Cavernous  or  mountain  limestone, 
Knob  sandstone. 

Land  plants  abundant  in  coal  pe- 
riod. 
Some  thin  coals  found    in  this 
group. 

/Upper. 
1  Lower. 

Old  red  sandstone  of  European 
writers:  Catskill  group  of  New 
York. 
Chemung,  Portage,  Genesee,  Tul- 
ly,  Hamilton  and  Marcellus. 
Corniferous  and  Onondago  lime- 
stone ;     Schoharie    and     Cauda 
galli  grits  ;  Oriskany  sandstone 
groups. 

Remarkable  fossil  fishes  during 
this  period. 

Of  New  York  Geologists 

Lyell  extends  the  Upper  Silurian 
to  the  Hamilton  group,  inclusive  . 

t 

Upper. 

- 
Lower. 

(  Upper  pentamerus  limestone. 
Delthyris  shaly  limestone. 
Pentamerus  galeatus  limestone. 
Onondaga  salt  gronp. 
Niagara  group. 
Clinton  group. 
Medina  sandstone, 
f  Hudson  river  group. 
I  Trenton  limestone. 
J  Black  River  limestone, 
]  Bird's  Eye  limestone. 
Chazy  limestone, 
t  Calciferous  limestone. 

^  Lower  Helderburg,  Brachiopods 
!    common. 
fLudlow    formation  of    English 
j    writers. 

)  Wenlock  or  Dudley  formation,  <xf 
v    English  writers. 

>  Caradoc,  of  English  writers. 
>  Llandeilo,  of  English  writers. 

The  Potsdam  sandstone,  of  New 
York  Geologists.    This  last  sub- 
group, is  by  some  English  wri- 
ters, considered  as  belonging  to 
a  separate  system:    The  Cam- 
brian. 

Trilobites  sad  corals  numerous. 

OP  INDIANA.  15 


After  examining  this  tabular  view  of  aqueous  rocks,  one  sub-divis- 
ion of  which  alone  may  be  10,000  feet  thick,  it  is  very  natural  for 
those,  who  are  aware  that  the  deepest  mining  operations  do  not 
lead  us  much  over  2,000  feet  below  the  earth's  surface,  to  inquire  how 
we  became  acquainted  with  these  lower  strata.  The  reply  is  that  we 
<jould  not  study  them  if  they  occupied  the  same  horizontal  position  in 
which  they  were  originally  deposited;  but  as  they  have  been  disturbed 
.and  their  edges  occasionally  brought  to  the  surface  by  upheaval  or 
force  acting  from  below  upwards,  it  becomes  necessary,  towards  a  right 
understanding  of  our  subject,  for  us  to  examine  this  phenomenon,  and 
become  familiar  with  the  terms  applied  to  its  different  parts  and 
phases. 

It  is  generally  supposed  that  the  first  film,  or  inner  portion  of  the 
•earth's  crust,  consists  of  rocks  which  resulted  from  cooling  after  being 
in  a  molten  condition,  somewhat  like  the  slack  we  see  thrown  from 
large  furnaces,  having  either  a  solid  crystalline  structure  or  a  porous 
spongy  appearance.  These  hypogene  (nether  formed,)  or  igneous  or 
crystalline  rocks,  although  constituting  probably  the  inner  film,  and 
thus  deriving  their  origin  deep  in  the  earth,  may,  in  consequence  of 
internal  commotion  and  expansion,  either  raise  portions  of  the  superin- 
cumbent aqueous  rocks  or  even  break  through  and  pour  over  them. 
This  may  take  place  after  deposition  of  the  palaeozoic  (older)  sedimen- 
tary rocks,  also  called  primary  fossiliferous,  or  of  the  middle  aged 
(mesozoic)  rocks,  called  secondary,  or  even  during  part  of  the  caino- 
zoic  age,  which  embraces  the  Tertiary  or  modern  epochs.  Thus  these 
eruptive  rocks,  such  as  granite  and  basalt,  may  be  called  primary- 
granite,  secondary-granite,  tertiary-basalt,  &c.,  according  to  the  period 
at  which  they  burst  through  the  earth's  crust. 

Of  the  various  Igneous  rocks,  including  some  sedimentary  deposits 
which  it  is  supposed  have  been  altered  or  metamorphosed  by  the  action 
of  fire,  and  hence  called  metamorphic,  a  tabular  view,  conspectus  or 
.-synopsis,  is  now  also  given  as  an  additional  aid. 


16 


GEOLOGICAL   RECONNOISSANCE 


CONSPECTUS  OF  IGJSTEOUS  ROCKS. 


_            Division.              Sub-divisions. 

COMPOSITION  AND  REMARKS. 

i 

.^3 
"to 

'Quartzite. 

A  rock  composed  of  quartz. 

1       ' 

Hypogene    marble     o  r 

A  carbonate  of  lime  destitute  of  fossils,  such  as  statuary  mar- 

pS 

limestone. 

ble. 

i 

b 

Clay  slate. 
Chlorite  slate. 

Composed  chiefly  of  clay,  (Latin,  alumina  OT  argilla.) 
Composed  chiefly  of  the  mineral  chlorite,  a  silicate  of  alumina 
and  iron. 

O 

b 

Metamorphic.   - 

Talcous  slate. 

Composed  chiefly  of  talc,  a  silicate  of  magnesia,  with  some  pot- 
ash and  iron. 

el 

Hornblende  slate. 

Composed  chiefly  of  hornblende:  silica,  alumina,  magnesia,  lime 

a 

and  iron. 

«  1 

Mica  slate. 

Composed  chiefly  of  mica  :  a  silicate  of  alumina,  with  some  lime 

M    15 

and  iron. 

8  1 

Gneiss. 

Composed  of  quartz,  felspar  and  mica,  disposed  in  regular  lay- 

« § 

l- 

ers  ;  it  is,  in  fact,  stratified  granite. 

w   fc 

fc     «T 

'Pumice. 
Pearlstone. 

A  spongy  form  of  trachyte,  so  light  as  to  float  on  water. 
Resembling  obsidian,  but  less  glassy. 

u     a 

Obsidian. 

Vitreous  lava,  like  melted  glass,  sometimes  white,  at  others 

O    "« 

'  c 

black. 

PH      tJ 

o 
J 

Tuff  or  Tufa. 

Volcanic  tufa  is  made  up  of  fragments  of  scoriae  and  pumice. 

M      h; 

s 

Scoria3. 

Volcanic  cinders. 

*     O 

§  gf 

x 

Trachytic  lava. 
Lava. 

A  form  of  felspathic  lava  which  feels  rough  to  the  touch. 
Melted  matter  which  has  flowed  from  a  volcanic  crater. 

i  I 

Recent  Amygdaloid. 

Volcanic  material,  permeated  by  gases,  which  leave  almond- 
shaped  cavities  into  which  mineral  matter  frequently  filters. 

If 

Volcanic.    < 

Ancient  Amygdaloid. 

Formed  in  the  same  manner  as  the  recent,  often  of  trap  contain- 
ing zeolite  or  quartz  minerals. 

8  'i 

Trachyte  or  Domite. 

Chiefly  glassy  felspar. 

Serpentine  rock. 

Serpentine,  a  magnesian  mineral;  with  limestone  disseminated, 

K 

+j 

forms  Verd  antique  marble. 

i 

I 

Diallage  rock. 

Diallage  (a  variety  of  hornblende,)  and  felspar. 

| 

•'"'    ;-:";"'      1 

Hyperstfcen-e  rock. 

Hypersthene  and  Labrador  felspar. 

^ 

Greenstone. 
Basalt. 

Hornblende  and  felspar.                               )  Trar>  -p..,,- 
Usually  augite,  felspar,  iron  and  olivine.    i  ir 

O 

Earthy  porphyries. 

Regular  crystals  in  a  compact  base,  such  as  trachyte,  clinkstone 

.2 

L 

or  claystone. 

S3 

'Crystalline  porphyries. 
Schorl  rock. 

Regular  crystals  in  a  crystalline  base,  such  as  granite  or  syenite. 
An  aggregate  of  schorl  (black  tourmaline)  and  quartz. 

.9 

Protogine. 

A  talcose  granite  :  felspar,  quartz  and  talc. 

"S 

Syenite. 

Quartz,  felspar  and  hornblende. 

2 

o 

Plutonic.          '< 

Pegmatite. 

Quartz  and  felspar. 

s 

Graphic  granite. 

Quartz  so  disposed  among  felspar  as  somewhat  to  resemble  He- 

brew writing. 

Granite. 

Quartz,  felspar  and  mica. 

Allusion  has  already  been  made  to  the  fact  that  these  Igneous  rocks 
have  at  various  periods  burst  through  the  sedimentary  rocks,  in  conse- 
quence of  internal  action,  thereby  disturbing  considerable  areas  of 
these  aqueous  deposits,  usually  elevating,  most,  the  portions  nearest  to 
the  igneous  upheaving  source.  Sometimes  eruptive  rocks,  thus  breaking 
through,  may  rise  to  form  the  highest  mountains,  and  the  higher  they 
rise  the  greater  the  angle  or  inclination,  or  dip,  they  will  give  to  the 
originally  horizontal  aqueous  deposits  through  which  they  break. 
Sometimes  the  igneous  rocks  are  elevated  sufficiently  to  disturb  these 
horizontal  sedimentary  strata,  yet  without  breaking  through  the  crust 
in  such  a  manner  as  to  be  detected  anywhere  on  the  surface. 

We  shall  not  now  stop  to  inquire  whether  this  internal  force  is  due 
to  a  disturbance  of  electrical  equilibrium,  and  this  again  dependent  on 
inequality  of  temperature  in  different  portions  of  our  planet's  interior, 
or  whether  it  arises  from  chemical  action,  because  these  discussions, 


OF  INDIANA.  j  7 


however  interesting,  would  lead  us  too  far ;  suffice  it  that  to  the  ex- 
tended lines  of  such  upheaval,  geologists  give  the  name  of  "  strike," 
from  the  German  "Streichen,"  to  extend  or  have  a  certain  direction. 
The  strike,  then,  of  hills  or  mountains,  would  be  their  ridge,  (range 
being  usually  applied  to  several  parallel  ridges,)  *  or  line  of  greatest 
extension.  This  may  be  compared  to  the  ridge  or  comb  ot  a  roof  on  a 
building.  The  deviation  from  a  true  horizontal  line,  which  the  sedi- 
mentary rocks  are  made  to  assume  by  this  upheaving  source  is  techni- 
cally called  the  "dip."  This  may  be  compared  to  the  sides  of  the  long 
mountain  or  to  the  slope  of  a  roof,  and  necessarily  lies  square  across,  or 
forms  a  right  angle  with  the  line  of  strike;  then,  if  we  suppose  the 
ridge  of  a  house  to  occupy  a  north  and  south  line,  the  slope  of  the  roof 
will  be  east  and  west,  one  prolongation  of  each  slope  running  upwards, 
the  other  downwards,  beneath  the  horizon  or  general  level  of  the 
earth's  surface.  When  this  is  the  case  with  a  bed  of  rocks,  geologists 
term  their  first  appearance  on  the  surface,  the  prolonged  line  of  which 
would  run  into  the  sky,  the  "out-crop"  of  those  rocks;  whereas, 
when  rocks  disappear  under  the  general  level,  they  are  said  to  "dip 
under."  A  line,  usually  on  a  ridge,  from  which  rocks  dip  each  way, 
is  said  to  have  an  anticlinal  axis,  whereas  a  union  of  two  lines  con- 
verging towards  the  earth  is  called  a  synclinal  axis,  and  is  commonly 
found  in  a  valley.  Occasionally  layers,  when  in  a  plastic  condition, 
appear  to  have  experienced  side  or  lateral  pressure,  in  which  case  the 
strata  are  said  to  be  "folded "  or  "curved."  At  other  times,  part  of  a 
bed  seems  to  have  been  detached  from  the  other  portion,  with  or  with- 
out disturbing  their  horizontality,  and  then  either  elevated  or  de- 
pressed; in  such  case,  the  vertical  line  extending  from  the  dislocated 
bed  to  the  place  of  original  junction,  is  called  by  miners  a  "fault." 
The  marks,  nearly  horizontal  or  gently  undulating,  that  indicate  differ- 
ent materials  to  have  been  deposited  on  each  other  from  water,  before 
consolidating  into  rock,  are  termed  lines  of  deposition,  and  others, 
which  do  not  correspond  with  them,  and  yet  show  a  facility  in  certain 
rocks  to  split  indefinitely  in  planes  parallel  to  each  other,  are  called 
lines  of  slaty  cleavage.  To  the  great  cracks,  often  at  right  angles  to 
the  bed,  of  which  quarrymen  avail  themselves  in  getting  out  rock, 
geologists  apply  the  name  of  "joints." 

The  rate  of  dip,  or  angle  with  the  horizon,  formed  by  a  bed  cf  roc  k 

*Thus  the  Appalachian  Range  is  composed  of  the  Blue  Ridge,  the  Allegheny  Mountains  or 
Ridge,  and  the  Cumberland  Ridge. 

2 


18  GEOLOGICAL  RECONNOISSANCE 

may  be  measured  by  any  straight  edge  with  a  pendulum  attachment. 
Geologists  generally  employ  a  clinometer  compass,  the  magnetic  needle, 
when  afterwards  allowed  to  vibrate,  giving  the  particular  direction  of 
the  dip. 

The  rate  of  say  2°  westerly  dip  would,  supposing  rocks  exposed  along  a 
lake  or  sheet  of  quiet  water,  so  as  to  show  their  original  true  bedding, 
cause  any  seam  or  layer  of  those  rocks,  which  was  about  a  foot  above  the 
surface  of  the  water  at  the  east  end  of  the  lake,  to  disappear  under  its 
surface,  when  traced  iu  a  westerly  direction  the  distance  of  only  twenty- 
eight  feet.  Consequently,  a  seam  of  coal  disappearing  at  any  given 
point  with  a  dip  of  2°  could  only  be  reached  say  at  the  distance  of  half 
a  mile  west  of  that  place,  supposing  the  same  rate  of  dip  continuous, 
by  sinking  a  shaft  nearly  a  hundred  feet  deep,  and  then  working  in, 
somewhat  horizontally.  Or,  taking  the  inverse  of  the  proposition,  a 
seam  of  coal  which,  at  a  given  point,  just  emerges  from  the  surface  of 
a  lake  or  pond,  might,  by  .tracing  it  in  the  direction  of  its  out-crop, 
the  contrary  of  the  dip,  be  found  half  a  mile  east,  in  hills  nearly  a  hun- 
dred feet  above  the  level  of  said  water. 

The  explanation  here  of  this  geological  phenomenon  may,  in  con- 
nection with  what  had  previously  been  stated,  serve  to  render  intelli- 
gible the  apparent  paradox  that  rocks  first  deposited,  and  consequently 
geologically  the  lowest,  may,  by  upheaval  at  some  point,  not  only  come  to 
the  surface,  ("  crop  out,")  but  even  be  elevated  to  such  a  hight  as  to  be 
geographically  or  topographically  much  higher  than  the  more  recently 
deposited  strata,  beds  or  layers. 

After  this  definition  of  technicalities  in  connection  with  the  short 
explanatory  account  of  igneous  rocks,  as  well  as  the  previous  descrip- 
tion and  tabular  view  of  sedimentary  deposits,  it  may  be  interesting  to 
know,  as  these  do  not  show  themselves  everywhere  on  the  earth's  crust, 
at  which  portions  of  the  globe  any  given  rocks  are  most  prevalent,  in 
other  words,  their  geographical  distribution.  Tracing  these  variations 
on  a  large  scale  may  prepare  us  better  to  follow  the  geological  differ- 
ences observable  in  Indiana. 

The  peaks  of  the  Himalaya  mountains,  the  highest  range  in  Asia 
and  indeed  on  the  globe,  are  composed  of  gneiss  (stratified  granite,) 
and  other  Igneous  or  Crystalline  rocks,  flanked  by  late  aqueous  deposits, 
as  the  Cretaceous  and  Tertiary;  the- Alps,  the  highest  European  moun- 
tains, are  of  the  same  type,  and  Mount  Atlas,  in  Africa,  is  also  of  Plu- 
tonic origin.  The  Grampian  and  other  hills  in  the  north  of  Scotland, 
some  of  the  northern  parts  of  Ireland,  of  the  north  and  west  of  Eng- 


OF    INDIANA.  19 


land,  portions  of  Norway  and  of  Spain  are  likewise  hypogene,  chiefly 
of  the  plutonic  sub-division.  Passing  to  the  western  Hemisphere  we 
find  igneous  rocks  prevalent  in  the  highest  parts  of  the  Andes,  meta- 
mororphic  schists,  with  beds  of  limestones  resting  on  the  slopes,  forming 
the  Rocky  Mountains,  while  the  Slates  visible  in  the  Appalachian 
range  are  by  some  assigned  to  the  same  type,  by  others  considered 
only  a  metamorphic  condition  of  silurian  strata.  The  northern  regions 
of  our  continent  have  also  mountains  of  hypozoic,  crystalline  rocks, 
which  probably  furnished  in  part  the  bowlders*  so  common  in  northern 
Indiana.  Part  of  the  north  shore  of  Lake  Superior  furnishes  splendid 
samples  of  the  ancient  volcanie  rock,  basalt,  &c.,  such  as  are  found  also 
at  the  well-known  localities:  Fingal's  Cave  in  Scotland,  and  the 
Giant's  Causeway,  in  the  north  of  Ireland.  Evidences  of  extinct  vol- 
canoes of  more  recent  origin  can  be  found  in  Auvergne,  about  the 
centre  of  France;  (where  some  of  the  old  craters  are  in  a  high  state  of 
cultivation,)  the  same  type  prevailing  in  portions  of  the  Pyrenees. 
Active  volcanoes,  furnishing  lava  and  other  rocks  mentioned  in  the 
tabular  view,  are  most  abundant  in  equatorial  or  at  least  tropical  re  • 
gions,  such  as  Sumatra,  Java,  the  Moluccas,  Phillipine  Islands,  Cen- 
tral India,  Sandwich  Islands,  the  Azores,  Canary  and  Cape  Yerd 
Islands,  Mexico,  the  West  Indies,  Central  America,  and  part  of  the 
Andes.  Active  volcanoes  are,  however,  abundant  in  some  of  the 
northern  regions,  as  the  Northern  Rocky  Mountains,  Italy,  Sicily,  and 
Japan,  also  in  the  arctic  and  antarctic  countries,  as  the  Aleutian  a-iid 
Kurile  Islands,  Iceland  and  the  antarctic  continent  discovered  by  the 
United  States  exploring  expedition.  The  slates  furnished  by  the  met* 
amorphic  rocks  are  abundant  in  Norway,  Sweden,  Scotland,  Switzer- 
land and  especially  Wales. 

The  palaeozoic  rocks  of  Silurian  date  are  found  in  the  north  and 
west  part  of  Russia  in  Europe,  in  eastern  Siberia,  in  Sweden,  Asia, 
Africa  and  eastern  Australia,  in  parts  of  Spitzbergen,  Nova  Zembla 
and  Terra  del  Fuego.  The  system  receives  its  name  from  prevailing 
in  the  west  of  England  and  adjoining  parts  of  Wales,  in  which  an  an- 
cient tribe  of  Britains  lived,  called  the  Si  lures.  On  our  continent,  the 
lower  part  of  this  system  exists  in  the  south  of  Canada  and  north- 
west part  of  Russian  America,  extends  from  the  upper  Mississippi  to 


*  This  word  being  derived  from  the  verb  to  bowl,  the  orthography  recommended  by  Webster  is 
employed,  as  indicative  of  the  derivation,  instead  of  the  more  common  mode  of  spelling  the  word 
with  the  letter  "U." 


20  GEOLOGICAL  VRECONNOISSANCE 

the  southern  portions  of  Minnesota  and  Wisconsin ;  sweeps  from  the 
Gulf  of  Saint  Lawrence  through  part  of  Vermont,  a  considerable  re- 
gion in  New  York  State,  somewhat  in  Pennsylvania,  and  is  continued 
in  a  narrow  strip  along  the  eastern  slope  of  the  Appalachian  range. 
This  lower  part  of  the  Silurian  system  has  also  formed  a  plateau  of 
considerable  elevation  and  extent  in  Ohio,  part  of  Kentucky  and  Indi- 
ana, as  well  as  an  upheaval  of  more  limited  dimensions  in  Tennessee; 
while  the  upper  silurian  formation  is  traceable  in  New  Brunswick, 
Nova  Scotia,  Lower  Canada,  along  the  south  of  Lake  Ontario,  through 
Niagara,  north  of  Lake  Erie,  the  northern  parts  of  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illi- 
nois and  Iowa,  -besides  occupying  less  extensive  tracts  in  Missouri, 
Arkansas  and  Tennessee.  The  extensive  and  valuable  lead  deposits  ot 
the  United  States  are  chiefly  situated  in  the  lower  part  of  the  silurian 
system. 

The  Devonian  system,  as  its  name  implies,  prevails  in  Devonshire, 
England,  as  well  as  in  Herefordshire,  Shropshine,  Worcestershire  and 
South  Wales;  it  furnished,  in  northern  and  middle  Scotland,  the  re- 
markable fishes  and  other  organisms  so  ably  described  in  Hugh  Miller's 
Old  Red  Sandstone;  it  is  not  much  developed  on  the  continent  of 
Europe  except  in  Russia.  In  our  country  it  forms  a  great  part  of  the 
Catskill  Mountains,  New  York,  besides  showing  itself  usually  in  a 
more  or  less  narrow  belt  around  the  numerous  coal  fields  hereafter 
described. 

The  sub-carboniferous  sandstones  and  limestones  rest  on  these  Devo- 
nian rocks,  and  in  their  turn  sustain  the  various  sandstones,  limestones, 
clay  beds  and  coal  seams  which  constitute  our  true  coal  measures,  the 
whole  being  embraced  under  the  names  of  the  carboniferous  system. 
The  coal  deposits  are  found  usually  in  the  form  of  a  basin,  at  least 
when  not  much  disturbed  by  igneous  action.  Of  the  fields,  in  North 
America,  one  comprises  a  considerable  portion  of  New  Brunswick  and 
Nova  iScotia ;  another,  of  an  elongated  form,  extends,  under  the  name 
of  the  Appalachian  coal  field,  from  Pennsylvania  through  part  of 
Ohio,  Virginia,  Kentucky,  Tennessee  and  a  portion  of  Georgia,  into 
Alabama.  A  third  occupies  a  great  part  of  Illinois,  about  a  quarter  of 
Indiana,  and  a  portion  of  western  Kentucky.  A  fourth  great  coal 
field  is  situated  chiefly  in  Missouri  and  Iowa;  a  fifth  and  smaller  one 
in  Michigan;  a  sixth  in  Arkansas,  besides  other  coal  deposits,  (some 
perhaps  of  Tertiary  date,)  the  limits  of  which  have  not  yet  been  fully 
defined,  such-  as  those  in  Texas,  Kansas,  Van  Couver's  Island,  &c. 

In  the  old  continent  more  than  fifteen  million  tuns  of  coal  are  an- 


OF  INDIANA.  21 


nually  mined  and  consumed  in  Great  Britain  and  Ireland ;  one  million 
six  hundred  thousand  tuns  in  Belgium;  one  million  one  hundred  and 
fifty  thousand  tuns  in  France ;  one  million  tuns  in  Germany.  Coal  is 
also  found  in  Bohemia,  Hungary,  along  the  Persian  Gulf,  in  parts  of 
India,  China,  Japan,  Australia,  Tasmania,  Southern  Chili,  besides  ex- 
isting in  other  localities  either  less  known  or  unimportant. 

The  Permian  formation  is  well  developed  in  the  province  of  Perm, 
Russia,  and  in  Thuringia,  Germany;  it  also  exists  in  parts  of  England 
and  Scotland,  and  has  latterly  been  discovered  in  Kansas,  United 
States. 

The  New  Red  Sandstone  has  been  most  successfully  studied  in  Con- 
necticut and  Massachusetts,  but  also  extends  into  New  Jersey,  Pennsyl- 
vania and  Virginia.  It  exists  in  Cheshire,  England,  furnishing  large 
quantities  of  salt ;  also  in  Saxony,  Germany,  &c.  It  is  characterized 
by  the  tracks  of  gigantic  birds,  of  which,  in  Connecticut,  President 
Hitchcock  has  already  distinguished  more  than  thirty  different  species. 
In  the  succeeding  system,  the  Oolitic,  which  embraces,  according  to 
some  authors,  the  Lias,  Oolite  and  Wealden,  huge  reptiles  appear  to 
have  abounded.  Their  remains  are  found  chiefly  in  Germany  and  Eng- 
land, yet  some  of  the  groups  of  this  system  exist  in  Switzerland,  Rus- 
sia and  India.  Portions  of  Virginia  which  furnish  coal  are  considered 
as  Oolite.  This  formation  we  must  carefully  distinguish  from  an  Oolitic 
limestone,  which  occurs  in  our  own  State  and  elsewhere  among  the 
sub-carboniferous  limestones.  According  to  some  authors  the  Wealden 
forms  part  of  the  next  division. 

The  Cretaceous  system,  next  in  the  ascending  series,  is  well  developed 
in  England  and  France,  where  it  supports  the  short  herbage  of  the 
high  and  dry  South  Down  pastures,  so  well  adapted  for  sheep  raising. 
Some  subdivisions  of  this  system  exist  in  Germany,  Russia,  Italy,  north- 
western Africa,  India  and  South  America;  also  in  parts  of  the  Carpa- 
thian mountains,  and  Pyrenees.  One  of  the  lower  groups,  the  Green- 
sand,  extends  in  the  United  Seates  from  Alabama  through  parts  of  Mis- 
sissippi, and  Arkansas,  besides  being  fpund  in  Nebraska,  and  locally  in 
New  Jersey,  Virginia,  the  Carolinas,  and  Georgia. 

It  is  in  an  upper  member  of  this  system  that  the  chalk  of  commerce 
is  found,  often  enclosing  nodules  of  flint,  as  well  as  silicified  organisms, 
around  which  these  flinty  particles  were  deposited.  The  cretaceous 
system  closes  the  Secondary  or  Mesozoic  age,  and  brings  us  to  the  Ter- 
tiary age,  the  newer  part  of  which  contains  fossil  shells,  of  which  a 
large  percentage  is  identical  in  species  with  those  now  living.  The 


22  GEOLOGICAL  RECONNOISSATCCE 

oldest  formation  of  the  Tertiary  epoch,  called  the  Eocene,  is  found  form- 
ing the  basins  in  which  London  and  Paris  are  built,  and  in  which 
Baron  Cuvier  and  Prof.  Richard  Owen  studied  the  gigantic  mammalian 
remains  so  prevalent  in  those  formations.  Eocene  Tertiary  also  exists 
at  Mt.  Bolca,  iu  Northern  Italy,  at  Mt.  Lebanon,  in  Syria;  also  in 
Greece,  Morocco,  Algiers,  Egypt,  Persia  and  India.  On  our  continent 
it  is  traced  in  the  Patagonian  Andes,  and  at  various  points  near  our 
Atlantic  seabord,  from  Virginia  to  Mississippi. 

The  Miocene  Tertiary  prevails  in  the  valley  of  the  Adour,  Southern 
France,  constitutes  the  "molasse"  of  Switzerland,  the  basin  of  the  Dan- 
ube around  Vienna,  and  that  of  the  Rhine  near  Mayence,  extends  into 
Poland  and  Hungary,  and  is  found  in  India  and  Siam.  In  the  United 
States  it  is  most  prevalent  in  Delaware,  Maryland,  Virginia  and  North 
Carolina. 

The  Older  Pliocene  constitutes  heavy  deposits  on  both  sides  of  the 
Apennines,  forms  the  hills  of  Rome,  and  extends  also  into  Greece  and 
Asia  Minor.  In  England  it  exists  as  the  Suffolk  crag. 

The  Newer  Pliocene  is  found  in  Sicily  and  the  Cyclopean  Isles.  The 
English  and  Australian  cave  breccias,  as  well  as  the  Pampas  plains  of 
South  America,  are  usually  considered  as  of  Newer  Pliocene  age. 

Besides  these  regular  deposits,  we  have  materials  that,  from  their 
rounded  appearance,  have  evidently  been  transported  a  greater  or  less 
distance;  some  of  these  fragments  are  hence  called  Drift,  and  by  some 
writers  are  included  as  part  of  the  Tertiary.  Other  writers  commence 
a  new  era  with  these  transported  materials,  calling  it  Quaternary;  and 
denominate  the  older  materials  as  Drift  or  Diluvium,  which  they  sup- 
pose has  been  conveyed  by  the  action  of  ice,  or  water,  or  both,  from  the 
original  situation,  in  which  it  constituted  a  rock  mass.  Under  this 
head  would  also  be  included  the  deposits  of  marl,  supposed  to  have  con- 
stituted ancient  lake  beds.  To  the  latter  materials  of  transportation 
these  geologists  apply  the  term  Alluvium,  from  the  Latin  word  to  wash, 
because  these  are  chiefly  the  result  of  late  washings,  being  found  in  the 
beds  of  rivers,  particularly  at  their  mouths ;  also  in  low,  swampy  pla- 
ces. Others  designate  these  deposits  as  Recent,  because  belonging  to 
the  Historical  period,  and  make  them  include,  also,  the  limestone  now 
forming  in  the  West  Indies,  the  calcareous  tufas,  depositing  wherever 
water  trickles  slowly  from  a  soil,  or  over  rocks  highly  impregnated 
with  lime,  as  well  as  the  bog  iron  ores,  forming  where  water  impreg- 
nated with  iron  is  arrested  in  its  course. 

The  older  drifted  materials  are  abundant  in  Scandinavia,  Siberia,  and 


OF  INDIANA.  23 


the  northern  part  of  our  great  Mississippi  Valley.  In  Indiana,  the 
larger  bowlders  extend  as  far  as  39°  south,  and  smaller  materials  are 
abundant  where  valleys  have  permitted  their  passage,  as  far,  at  least,  as 
the  Ohio  river.  I 

The  whole  subject,  however,  connected  with  the  Drift  phenomena, 
being  very  complicated,  and  at  the  same  time  interesting  and  useful,  it 
has  been  thought  best  to  devote  part  of  another  chapter  in  the  report 
to  an  investigation  of  the  facts  collected,  and  of  the  inferences  which  it 
appears  fair  to  deduce  from  the  same. 

After  this  general  summary  of  the  geographical  distribution  of  the 
various  geological  formations,  it  may  be  well  to  recapitulate  again 
briefly  those  designated  as  occurring  in  Indiana.  Our  own  State  has  no 
crystalline  rocks  coming  to  the  surface,  although  it  is  doubtless  entirely 
underlaid  by  them;  and  in  some  cases  these  hypozoic  or  igneous  rocks 
may  be  at  no  very  great  distance  from  the  surface.  The  points  nearest 
to  our  own  State  at  which,  as  yet,  1?hey  have  been  observed  to  reach  the 
surface,  are  in  the  Cumberland  ridge  of  the  Appalachian  range  of 
mountains,  some  two  hundred  miles  from  our  south-eastern  boundary; 
and  the  upheaval  of  these  hypogene  rocks  is  considered  by  geologists 
as  having  taken  place  since  the  period  when  the  sedimentary  rocks  vis- 
ible in  Indiana  were  deposited.  This  is  deduced  from  the  fact  that,  as 
a  general  rule,  all  our  rocks  in  Indiana  have  an  inclination  or  dip  away 
from  this  upheaving  source.  As  water  finds  its  own  level  and  deposits 
its  materials  usually  horizontally,  it  seems  reasonable  to  draw  the  above 
inference,  inasmuch  as  the  rocks,  west  of  the  Allegheny  range,  have  a 
general  slope  or  inclination  below  the  horizon,  in  a  westerly  direction, 
(disregarding  in  this  generalization  the  purtial  dips  effected  by  the  Silu- 
rian upheavals  and  other  yet  more  local  disturbances,)  until  they  come 
within  the  influence  of  the  Rocky  Mountain  range,  west  of  the  Missis- 
sippi river. 

Thus,  then,  in  Indiana,  we  have  usually  a  gentle  westerly  dip,  some- 
times a  little  north  of  west,  sometimes  south  of  west,  and  occasionally 
west  of  south.  The  dip,  or  variation  of  the  rocks  from  a  true  horizon- 
tal line,  estimated  by  their  disappearing  under  the  surface  of  the  water 
in  descending  the  Wabash,  the  fall  of  the  river  baing  known,  appears 
to  be  commonly  only  a  few  feet  in  a  mile,  although  accasionally  as  high 
as  2;°  while  some  rare  local  or  partial  dips  are  as  high,  in  Indiana,  as 
45.° 

The  aqueous  or  sedimentaiy  rocks  observable  in  Indiana  comprise 
the  following  systems : 


24  GEOLOGICAL   RECONNOISSANCE 

1st.     The  Lower  Silurian,  chiefly  in  the  south-eastern  counties. 

2d.  The  Upper  Silurian,  extending  from  these  south-eastern  coun- 
ties over  most  of  the  north  and  north-west,  although  partly  concealed 
by  Drift. 

3d.  The  Devonian  or  Old  Red  Sandstone,*  having  the  same  direc- 
tion, but  occupying  a  less  extensive  area  somewhat  more  southerly  than 
the  Upper  Silurian. 

4th.  The  sub-carboniferous  sandstones  arid  limestones  extend  from 
Floyd  and  Harrison  counties,  in  a  belt  thirty  or  forty  miles  wide,  to 
Tippecanoe  county,  and  thence  under  the  drift  probably  to  Lake  Mich- 
igan. 

5th.  The  Coal  measures,  embracing  at  least  twenty  south-western 
counties,  besides  portions  of  five  others  adjoining. 

6th.  The  Drift,  made  up  of  rounded  materials,  which,  from  their 
form,  as  already  stated,  give  evidence  of  having  been  detached  from 
rocky  masses,  and  transported  a  greater  or  less  distance.  On  this  point 
most  geologists  agree;  but  they  are  not  yet  of  one  opinion  regarding 
the  agency  employed  in  this  transportation.  Suffice  it  here  briefly  to 
state  that,  while  some  attribute  the  agency  to  glaciers,  many  think  ice- 
bergs carried  the  larger  masses  from  the  northern  regions,  (in  which 
similar  rocks  are  often  found  constituting  high  mountains,)  into 
warmer  seas,  where  they  finally  stranded  on  the  shallow  shores,  or 
sometimes  sank  to  the  bottom  at  deeper  places,  not  however  as  yet 
freed  from  ice.  The  icebergs  or  ice  masses,  acted  on  by  winds  and  waves, 
still  carried  these  hard  rock-massss,  causing  them  to  drift  along  the 
rocky  bottom,  and  thus  to  wear  off  their  own  edges  and  corners,  while 
grooving  the  flat  surfaces  of  the  underlying,  usually  softer  aqueous, 
rocks,  into  strise,  or  channeled  furrows,  which  can  yet  be  distinctly 
seen  at  various  places,  after  the  removal  of  drift  from  a  quarry  rock. 
These  particulars  will,  however,  be  more  fully  detailed  in  a  subsequent 
part  of  this  Report. 

The  northern  portion  of  Indiana,  especially,  has  had  its  rocks,  and 
originally  deposited  materials,  covered  up  in  most  places,  sometimes  to 
a  considerable  depth,  by  this  drift,  or  Quaternary  deposit,  as  it  is 
termed  by  some  writers,  who  think  a  new  and  marked  era  was  thus  in- 

*  The  name  "Red  Sandstone"  is  not  appropriate  in  the  United  States,  because  the  fossils 
characterizing  that  period,  instead  of  being  found,  as  in  Europe,  in  a  sandstone  highly  col- 
ored red  by  oxide  of  iron,  are,  in  this  country,  usually  found  in  limestone. 


OP    INDIANA.  25 


augurated,  after  the  Tertiary ;  hence  the  name,*  as  before  remarked, 
designed  to  denote  a  fourth  great  epoch  in  the  geological  history  of  the 
earth. 

At  the  first  mention  of  a  section  of  country  thus  covered  up  by 
drifted  and  rounded  fragments,  almost  destitute  of  fossils,  we  might  ex- 
pect such  a  region  to  be  comparatively  devoid  of  interest  for  the  Geol- 
ogist; but  it  proves  far  otherwise,  when  we  trace  out  facts  bearing  on 
these  drift  phenomena,  on  the  formation  of  prairies,  and  incidentally, 
perhaps,  on  the  deposition  of  materials  in  basins,  now  termed  coal 
fields  or  coal  basins,  as  it  will  be  attempted  to  show  in  a  later  part  of 
this  Report.  These  northern  regions  of  Indiana  are,  however,  besides, 
by  no  means  devoid  of  mineral  wealth,  having  tracts  of  swampy  muck, 
rich  in  organic  materials,  often  underlaid  by  deposits  of  bog  iron  ore, 
of  marl  and  of  clays  suitable  for  the  manufacture  of  earthen  ware,  and 
of  the  so-called  Milwaukie  brick;  as  well  as  being  rich  in  agricultural 
wealth,  in  consequence  of  the  excellent  soils  formed  by  the  disintegra- 
tion of  the  varied  quaternary  materials.  In  places  too,  as  will  be  shown 
hereafter,  this  Drift,  especially  towards  the  center  of  our  State,  contains 
considerable  deposits  of  gold-dust,  brought  with  particles  of  its  quartz 
matrix  from  the  original  mountain  site. 

It  will  appear  evident,  from  the  above  facts,  that,  as  we  travel  from 
the  middle-eastern  border  of  our  State  westward,  we  go  with  the  dip. 

Starting  from  the  highest  levels  in  the  State,  whence  our  largest 
streams  take  their  origin,  and  passing  gradually  from  these  geologically 
low  formations  (the  Lower  and  then  upper  Silurian)  to  the  Devonian 
regions,  topographically  lower,  although  geologically  higher,  and  thence 
to  the  sub-carboniferous  limestones  and  sandstones,  which  disappear 
under  the  true  coal  measures,  we  thus  reach  finally  our  valuable  coal 
deposits.  This  coal-bearing  formation  is  the  uppermost  and  last  true 
geological  deposit  in  Indiana,  (if  we  consider  the  Drift,  as  some  authors 
do,  too  partial  and  erratic  to  be  classed  as  such,)  but  topographically 

*To  render  this  quite  intelligible  to  the  general  reader,  he  is  reminded  that  the  early  geol- 
ogists applied  the  term  primary  (from  the  Latin  primus,  first,)  to  the  Igneous  rocks,  suppos- 
ing them  to  be  first  formed ;  as,  however,  these  may  come  to  t^e  surface  at  various  periods  of 
the  earth's  history,  later  geologists  use  the  word  primary  for  the  earlier  fossiliferous  rocks 
from  the  Lower  Silurian  to  the  Permian  inclusive,  to  denote  the  first  existence  or  great  era  of 
animal  and  vegetable  life;  secondary  (from  the  Latin  secundus,  second,)  embraces  the  forma- 
tions from  the  New  Red  Sandstone  to  the  Cretaceous,  both  inclusive ;  the  Tertiary  (Latin  ter- 
tius,  third,)  includes,  as  may  be  seen  in  the  Table,  Eocene,  Miocene,  and  Pliocene;  while  the 
Quaternary  (from  the  Latin  numeral  quatuor,  four,  or  the  ordinal  quartus}  fourth,)  includes, 
besides  the  Drift,  all  the  deposits  and  modifications  up  to  the  present  day,  and  such  as  may 
continue  to  be  made  until  some  other  great  change  takes  plaoe. 


26  GEOLOGICAL  RECONNOISSANCE. 

the  lowest,  as  indicated  by  the  convergence  of  the  Ohio  and  the 
Wabash,  until  the  latter  empties  into  the  former  in  the  extreme  south- 
west corner  of  our  State. 

Each  geological  formation  has  its  marked  differences  of  soil,  forest 
growth,  and  adaptation  for  peculiar  agricultural  products,  as  well  as  its 
varying  materials  for  the  construction  of  works  of  art,  buildings, 
bridges,  roads,  pottery,  &c.,  and  also  its  differing  water  as  a  beverage, 
and  to  some  extent  atmospheric  variations,  hygrometric,  miasmatic,  &c., 
producing  consequent  varieties  in  the  diseases  to  which  vegetable  as 
well  as  animal  life  are  exposed. 

The  definite  limits  of  these  formations  will  be  found  more  accurately 
described,  and  other  details  more  exactly  pointed  out,  in  the  subsequent 
portions  of  this  report,  where  each  county*  is  taken  up  in  succession, 
or  where  several  counties,  varying  but  little  in  character,  are  embraced 
under  one  head,  as  a  District. 

*  Eighty-five  out  of  our  ninety-two  counties  were  examined  by  me  personally  to  some  ex- 
tent; but  I  do  not  consider  any  one  of  the  counties  to  have  been  yet  nearly  as  thoroughly 
explored  as  it  merited,  or  as  the  mineral  and  agricultural  interests  of  the  State  demand. 
Time  and  means  did  not  permit  more  to  be  done ;  indeed,  had  it  not  been  for  the  earnest  de- 
sire if  possible  to  visit  at  least  each  couuty  seat,  and  explain  the  course  adopted,  so  as  to 
avoid  any  appearance  of  partiality,  it  would  have  been,  perhaps,  better  to  have  taken  fewer 
counties,  and  to  have  completed  the  work  as  we  went. 


CHAPTER  II. 


DETAILS    OF    COUNTIES. 

ID  order  to  save  time  and  space,  as  well  as  less  to  interrupt  the  con- 
tinuity of  the  subject,  it  has  been  thought  best  to  include,  under  this 
head,  not  only  the  preparatory  information  obtained,  regarding  any 
county  or  counties,  during  the  fall  reconnoissance  of  1859,  but  also  the 
more  detailed  facts  observed  or  communicated  in  the  spring  and  au- 
tumn surveys  of  1860,  as  well  as  the  data  kindly  furnished  by  the  dif- 
ferent members  of  the  State  Board  of  Agriculture  in  reply  to  a  series 
of  queries  addressed  to  them  regarding  their  respective  districts. 

In  presenting  the  details  collected  it  is  proposed  to  follow  the  natural 
geographical  and  geological  sequence  of  grouping  rather  than  the 
route  pursued  in  visiting  different  localities,  which  route,  or  line  of 
travel,  was  sometimes  purposely  made  to  cross  the  formations,  as  afford- 
ing, although  more  laborious  for  man  and  horse,  better  opportunies  for 
inspection  than  when  following  the  strike  or  continuous  ridge  level. 

Although  a  county  may,  by  this  arrangement,  be  described  as  be- 
longing chiefly  to  a  certain  formation,  yet  it  must  be  borne  in  mind 
that  at  least  two  formations  may  exhibit  themselves  in  a  county  and 
even  be  modified  besides  by  drift.  Therefore  in  assigning  any  one  to  a 
particular  section  it  is  only  meant  that  the  described  county  presents 
chiefly  to  view  the  formation  under  which  it  is  ranked. 

Again,  a  county  may  afford  fossils  of  a  certain  geological  formation, 
as  the  Upper  Silurian,  particularly  in  the  bed  of  water  courses,  and  yet 
the  soil  may  have  mainly  resulted  from  the  decomposition  of  the  orig- 
inally overlying  Devonian  shales,  thereby  imparting  to  the  county 
agricultural  and  other  features  more  nearly  allied  to  Devonian  than  to 
Upper  Silurian  regions.  Thus,  although  when  the  water  is  low  on  the 
Falls  of  the  Ohio,  we  find  unmistakable  Upper  Silurian  fossils,  it  would 
be  wrong  to  describe  either  Clark  or  Floyd  county  as  in  the  Upper  Si- 
lurian formations,  the  former  deriving  its  character  from  Devonian 


28  GEOLOGICAL    RECONNAISSANCE 

limestone,  the  latter  from  sub-carboniferous  rocks.  For  these  reasons, 
although  Upper  Silurian  rocks  are  found  on  the  Wabash,  at  Delphi 
and  Logansport,  yet  Carroll  and  Cass  counties  are  embraced  under  the 
head  of  Devonian,  because  in  the  former  the  black  shales  constitute 
the  great  plateau  and  the  upland  of  the  latter  Devonian  limestone  is 
abundantly  indicated  by  its  fossils. 

On  the  other  hand,  Devonian  fossils  being  found  at  Pendleton,  Madi- 
son county,  would  seem  to  justify  its  being  described  under  that  head; 
but,  as  the  majority  of  the  county  has  Upper  Silurian  rocks,  it  was 
deemed  best  in  that  and  similar  cases  to  classify  the  county  by  the 
prevalent  formation. 

In  a  region  chiefly  covered  with  drift,  there  may  be,  as  on  the  Little 
Menon,  at  West  Bradford,  sufficient  rock  exposure  to  identify  that  part 
of  White  county  as  Upper  Silurian,  overlaid  by  Devonian,  and  so  with 
other  drift  counties;  yet  the  disintegration  of  the  quaternary  materials 
furnishing  the  chief  elements  of  the  soil,  that  county  is  embraced 
among  the  counties  of  the  drift  formation.  These  examples  may  serve 
to  explain  many  similar  cases.  In  accordance  with  the  skeleton  index 
of  reference  given  at  the  commencement  it  will  be  perceived  that,  be- 
fore describing  the  counties  in  detail  which  belong  to  any  geological 
system,  it  was  considered  best  to  speak — 

1.  In  general  terms  of  that  geological  formation  and  its  prevalence  in 
our  State. 

2.  Of  the  soil  usually  resulting  from  its  decomposition ;  its  adapta- 
tion for  different  agricultural  products  and  stock ;  also,  of  the  materials, 
if  any,  wanting  to  render  it  highly  productive. 

3.  The  coal,  if  any  exists,  would  next  be  enumerated ;  otherwise  the 
quarries  would  come  in  order,  such  as  those  affording  building  rock, 
materials  for  roads,  grindstone  and  whetstone  quarries,  &c.;  also,  de- 
posits of  marl,  hydraulic  limestone,  gypsum,  clays  for  pottery,  fire- 
brick, and  the  like. 

4.  The  metals  would  next  demand  attention,  as  iron,  lead,  zinc,  gold, 
or  any  others  found  in  that  geological  system. 

5.  The  growth  of  timber  and  leading  vegetation,  whether  suitable 
for  exportation  in  the  form  of  veneers,  hoop-poles,  tanning  material, 
medical  roots,  &c. 

6.  Mineral  springs,  artesian  wells,  arid  similar  subjects. 

7.  Miscellaneous  facts,  such  as  the  prevalence  of  milk-sickness,  po- 
tato rot,  hog  cholera,  &c. 


OF   INDIANA.  29 


8.  Specific  enumeration  of  the  fossils  found  in  Indiana  imbedded  in 
that  geological  formation,  by  an  inspection  of  which  it  may  be  recog- 
nized. 

9.  A  detailed  description  of  each  county  in  the  formation. 

Commencing,  then,  acording  to  the  above  plan,  with  the  oldest  geo- 
logical deposits  found  in  pur  State,  we  have  first  to  describe,  in  detail, 
those  situated  in  the  Silurian  System. 


•I 
30  GEOLOGICAL   RECONNOISSANCE 

SEC.  I.— COUNTIES  IN  THE  LOWER  SILURIAN  FORMATION. 

SUB- SECTION  1. — GENERAL  CHARCTER  OF  THE  LOWER  SILURIAN  FORMA- 
TION AND  ITS  PREVALENCE  IN  INDIANA. — Eight  of  our  south-eastern  coun- 
ties are  situated  in  this  lower  sub- division  of  the  Silurian  system,  viz.: 
"Wayne,  Union,  Fayette,  Franklin,  Dearborn,  Ripley,  Ohio  and  Swit- 
zerland. Several  adjoining  counties  exhibit  at  deep  natural  or  artificial 
cuts  this  Lower  Silurian  formation,  especially  Jefferson  county,  also  the 
eastern  parts  of  Decatur,  Rush,  and  probably  of  Henry,  besides  the 
southern  portion  of  Randolph,  as  nearly  as  could  be  determined  under 
the  heavy  drift. 

The  New  York  Geologists  have  distinguished  the  Lower  Silurian 
formation  into  seven  different  groups,  besides  subordinate  members  of 
some  of  those  groups.  The  portions  which  seem  most  prevalent  in  the 
West  are  the  Trenton  Limestone  and  Hudson  River  Group,  extending 
from  our  State  into  Ohio  and  Kentucky,  under  the  name,  usually,  of 
the  Blue  Limestone,  and  constituting  the  hills  around  Cincinnati  and 
Frankfort,  as  well  as  appearing  at  Nashville,  Tennessee,  all  of  which 
localities  afford  good  fossils. 

These  middle  and  upper  groups  of  the  Lower  Silurian  formation  are 
chiefly  beds  of  limestone,  with  intervening  spaces  in  which  a  deposi- 
tion of  clay  predominated  and  gave  rise,  by  compression,  to  intercalated 
beds,  sometimes  called  mudstones,  more  frequently,  argillaceous  shales. 
The  limestone  is  often  of  a  deep  blue  color,  passing  into  gray,  crystal- 
line, sometimes  hard  and  compact,  usually  rich  in  fossil  remains.  The 
mudstones,  although  at  first  apparently  solid,  rapidly  attract  moisture, 
in  consequence  of  their  argillaceous  composition,  and  soon  disintegrate. 

The  fossils  most  abundant  in  these  groups  will  be  found  specifically 
enumerated  at  the  close  of  this  section  ;  but  in  general  terms  it  may  be 
remarked  that  the  Trenton  Limestone,  estimated  in  New  York  to  be 
about  400  feet  thick,  and  the  Hudson  River  Group  occupying,  accord- 
ing to  the  same  authority,  700  feet,  are  both  characterized  not  only  in 
the  United  States,  but  also  in  Europe  and  elsewhere,  by  several  genera 
of  Trilobites,  (singular  crustaceans,  not  unlike  some  of  our  crabs,) 
which  seem  to  have  frequented  the  shores  of  the  Silurian  seas.  Be- 
sides these,  Brachiopods,  remarkable  bivalve  shells  of  which  a  few  gen- 
era, not  however  identical  in  species,  are  still  to  be  found  in  the  Medi- 
terranean Sea  and  elsewhere,  were  exceendigly  abundant,  indicating, 
according  to  Prof.  Forbes,  a  depth  in  the  ocean  of  at  least  four  or  five 
hundred  feet.  Of  the  living  genus  Terebratula,  one  fossil  species  of 


'OF   INDIANA. 


which  is  very  common  in  the  Indiana  Blue  Sandstone,  Prof.  Forbes 
dredged  samples  from  the  nullipore  mind  of  the  Mediterranean,  at  the 
depth  of  about  250  fathoms  or  1,500  feet. 

The  junction  between  the  Lower  and  Upper  Silurian  is  recognized  in 
our  Western  States,  by  a  coral  assigned  to  the  Hudson  River  Group. 
This,  resembling  a  wasp's  nest  petrified,  and  called  by  Milne  Edwards, 
Columnaria  alveolata,  (formerly  Favistella  stellata,)  has  been  found  in 
Indiana  at  various  part  of  the  confines  between  the  Lower  and  Upper 
Silurian  formation,  as  that  at  the  Madison  cut,  not  far  from  the  top,  also 
at  Enochsburg,  about  the  junction  of  Decatur  and  Franklin  counties,  at 
places  in  Wayne,  Randolph,  and  even  Delaware  counties.  The  speci- 
men from  Enochsburg,  now  deposited  in  the  State  collection  at  Indian- 
anapolis,  weighs  153  pounds,  and  is  evidently  a  single  mass,  originating 
from  one  parent  stock,  the  apex  around  whose  nucleus  successive  gen- 
erations grew,  in  constantly  increasing  ranges  of  concentric  communi- 
ties. 

SUB-SECTION  2.  —  CHARACTER  OF  THE  SOIL  RESULTING  FROM  THE  DISINTE- 
GRATION OF  LOWER  SILURIAN  ROCKS,  AND  ITS  IMPROVEMENT.  —  It  was  ascer- 
tained during  the  process  of  the  Kentucky  survey  that  the  soils  in  this 
formation,  judging  as  well  by  the  analytical  proof  as  by  the  evidence 
offered  in  the  crops,  were  rich  in  the  lime  and  phosphoric  acid  so  nec- 
essary for  the  growth  and  filling  out  of  small  grain  and  grasses.  So 
much  so  that  it  was  considered  such  lands  were  more  likely  to  remain 
permanently  productive  than  some  rich  black  soils,  deficient  in  these 
inorganic  ingredients.  The  rocks  of  this  system  usually  abound  in  fos- 
sils, and  in  the  third  volume  of  the  Kentucky  report,  the  axiom  is  laid 
as  an  established  fact  in  Agricultural  Chemistry  that  "  the  more  replete 
the  rock  has  been  with  fossil  organic  relics,  and  the  more  earthy  and  easy  of 
decomposition  the  calcareous  rock,  the  more  productive  the  soil  derived  there- 


Of  course  where  these  these  limestones  and  marlites  exist,  there  is  not 
likely  to  be  any  deficiency  in  calcareous  matter,  and  usually  the  inter- 
calations of  agrillaceous  materials  furnish  as  much  alumna  or  clay,  say 
10  to  30  per  cent.,  as  is  desirable  for  mechanical*  mixture  with  the  ave- 
rage per  centage  of  sand  and  insoluble  silicates.  This  sand,  even  in 
aluminious  soils,  amounts  to  from  70  to  85  per  cent,  or  more,  while  in 

*Alumina  or  clay  lias  very  rarely,  if  ever,  been  found  in  the  ashes  of  plants,  although 
abundant  in  the  soil  from  which  that  plant  grew,  and  very  necessary  to  prevent  the  water 
charged  with  nutrition,  from  filtering  through  to  rapidly. 


32  GEOLOGICAL   RECONNOISSANCE 

some  formations,  made  up  greatly  of  sandstones,  the  ailex  or  sand  rises 
to  considerably  over  90  per  cent.  In  addition  to  the  lime  and  phospho- 
ric acid,  the  soils  resulting  from  the  blue  limestone  and  mudstones,  con- 
tain considerable  quantities  of  sulphuric  acid,  potash,  soda,  magnesia, 
iron  and  manganese. 

If  we  examine  carefully  the  best  works  on  agricultural  chemistry,  we 
find  that  any  soil,  in  order  to  be  fertile,  must  have,  besides  a  certain 
amount  of  organic  matter,  which  may  vary  from  5  to  40  per  cent.,  sev- 
eral inorganic  substances,  at  least  in  small  quantities,  these  are  lime, 
potash,  soda,  magnesia,  phosphoric  and  sulphuric  acid,  with,  usually, 
some  iron  and  manganese,  the  whole  diffused  through  a  mechanical 
mixture  of  clay  and  sand,  which  should  never  exceed  60  per  cent,  ot 
the  former,  nor  over  92  or  93  per  cent,  of  the  latter.  On  the  other 
hand  the  same  works  will  show  that  barren  soils  are  usually  especially 
deficient  in  potash,  soda,  phosphoric  acid,  and  perhaps  also  lime. 

By  an  inspection  of  the  soils  derived  from  the  Lower  Silurian  forma- 
tion, analyzed  by  Dr.  Peter  for  the  Indiana  survey,  or  the  still  more  ex- 
tensive sets  of  the  same  for  Kentucky,  it  will  be  seen  that  these  blue 
limestone  soils  have  almost  invariably,  at  least  in  the  virgin  soils,  a  fair 
proportion  of  all  the  essentials  of  fertility.  Therefore  all  that  is  neces- 
sary to  preserve  them  in  good  heart  is  to  restore  to  the  soil  a  fair 
amount  of  the  ingredients  taken  from  it,  or  to  retain  on  the  farm,  as 
far  as  practicable,  by  stock  grazing,  the  materials  raised.  This,  how- 
ever, is  by  no  means  the  case  with  soils  originally  deficient  in  some  es- 
sential inorganic  element,  which  may  require  us  to  resort  to  an  expen- 
sive dressing  with  lime,  plaster  or  bone  dust.  When  a  soil  in  the  Low- 
er Silurian  formation  has,  through  ignorance  or  neglect,  been  exhaust- 
ed by  cropping,  it  would  also  be  much  more  easy  to  return  to  it,  than 
to  an  originally  defective  soil,  the  lost  ingredients,  by  limited  amounts 
of  lime,  plaster  and  the  like,  applied  in  the  hills,  or  even  by  rolling  the 
soaked  seed  grain,  in  such  a  manner  in  plaster  and  the  like,  as  to  cover 
each  grain  with  a  moderate  coat.  Perhaps  the  same  result  may  be  ob- 
tained even  at  a  less  cost  by  sub-soil  plowing,  bringing  up  for  intermix- 
ture with  the  surface  soil,  a  few  inches  at  a  time,  if  previous  analysis 
has  proved  that  the  sub-soil  contains  the  necessary  ingredients,  as  was 
demonstrated  to  be  the  case  in  many  of  the  Kentucky  sub-soils  of  Blue 
Limestone  origin. 

The  fact  was  already  alluded  to  that  soils  such  as  these,  containing  con- 
siderable amounts  of  lime  and  phosphoric  acid,  are  well  adapted  for 


OP   INDIANA.  33 


the  growth  of  cereals  and  grasses.  Hence  the  cause  why  we  find  this 
blue  limestone  portion  of  Kentucky,  comprising  the  middle  counties  of 
that  State  converted  into  great  stock  farms.  For  tl.e  same  reason  the 
south-eastern  counties  of  Indiana  have  gone  largely  into  grazing, 
wheat  and  hay  raising;  the  counties,  such  as  Wayne,  Fayette,  &c., appa- 
rently preferring  the  two  former,  because  the  stock  arid  small  grain  can 
be  more  readily  shipped  by  railroad,  while  Dearborn,  Ohio  and  other 
counties  on  the  Ohio  river,  find  it  profitable  to  bale  and  ship  their  hay 
to  the  great  river  cities;  as  well  as  to  grow  Indian  corn  extensively  in 
the  river  bottoms,  a  crop  that  requires,  and  there  finds,  considerable 
amounts  of  potash,  magnesia  and  phosphoric  acid. 

Portions,  however,  of  this  formation  are  well  adapted  by  local  cir- 
cumstance for  other  besides  gramineal  crops;  thus  parts  of  the  blue 
limestone  of  the  Ohio  have  been  most  successfully  cultivated  in  vine- 
yards, and  that  culture  seems  gradually  and  favorably  extending  itself 
into  some  of  our  river  counties  in  this  as  well  a«  other  geological  form- 
ations. Especially  when  the  steepness  of  land,  or  its  mechanical  char- 
acter, renders  it  subject  to  wash  on  a  hill-side,  under  plow  cultivation, 
some  such  crop  as  the  above,  which  may  even  be  grown  in  terraces,  is 
worthy  of  being  considered  when  we  are  making  our  decision  as  to  the 
adaptation  of  land  to  certain  agricultural  products. 

More  than  thirty  years  since  the  Swiss  settlers,  at  Yevay,  Switzerland 
county,  produced  a  red,  light  wine,  resembling  claret,  which  sold  readily 
in  Cincinnati,  not  at  so  high  a  price  as  the  Catawba,  but  of  a  quality 
better  adapted  to  general  use,  where  only  a  mild  stimulant  is  desirable. 

As  another  recommendation  of  the  blue  limestone  soil,  we  must  not 
omit  to  mention  that  the  clay  resulting  from  the  decomposition  of  the  alu- 
minous shales,  already  described  as  intervening  between  the  beds  of 
harder  limestone,  is  sufficient  to  give  the  tenacity  necessary  for  the  re- 
tention of  manures  or  other  fertilizers,  when  the  agriculturist  consid- 
ers it  expedient  to  employ  them. 

SUB- SECTION  3. — QUARRIES  OP  MATERIALS  SUITABLE  POR  BUILDINGS, 
ROADS,  GRINDSTONES,  WHETSTONES,  AND  FOR  BURNING  QUICK  LIME  OR  HY- 
DRAULIC LIME;  ALSO,  DEPOSITS  OF  MARL,  GYPSUM,  CLAYS  FOR  POTTERY 
FIRE  BRICK,  &c. — There  being  no  prospect  for  finding  coal  in  a  formation 
geologically  below  the  carboniferous,  such  as  this,  we  next  proceed  to 
examine  whether  any  of  the  minerals  enumerated  in  the  heading  to 
this  third  sub-section  show  themselves,  in  Indiana,  within  the  sub-di- 
vision of  the  Silurian  system.  As  a  general  rule,  the  older  the  deposit, 

and  the  more  it  has  been  submitted  to  the  compression  produced  by 
o 


34  GEOLOGICAL   RECONNOISSANCE 


subsequently  deposited  materials,  the  more  compact  the  limestone,  sand- 
stone or  shale  is  likely  to  prove.  Thus  the  limestones  of  the  palaeozoic 
period  are  usually  harder  and  more  compact,  consequently  more  capa- 
ble generally  of  sustaining  vertical  pressure  in  the  form  of  foundation 
stone,  or  of  resisting  cross-fracture,  as  in  door  and  stair  steps,  door  and 
window  sills,  &c.,  than  the  limestones  of  very  recent  date,  such  as  the 
tertiary  limestone  of  Mexico.  These  I  saw  the  natives,  at  Monterey, 
dressing  with  broad  axes,  when  first  quarried,  but  after  the  evaporation 
of  the  quarry  water  the  rock  appeared  to  consolidate  into  pretty  fair 
building  materials  for  superstructures,  not  involving  great  strain. 

Such  being  the  case,  we  would  naturally  expect  to  find  the  Blue 
Limestone  of  Indiana  and  elsewhere  furnishing  good  building  mate- 
rials. This  is  actually  the  ease  if  care  and  judgment  are  exercised  ID 
the  selection  of  the  rock.  I  observed  some  years  since,  when  in  Ken- 
tucky, that  a  bridge  near  Georgetown,  Scott  county,  had  been  built  of 
blue  limestone  rocks,  in  which  the  aluminous  materials  formed  so- 
prominent  an  ingredient  that  the  bridge  was  rapidly  crumbling.  Yet 
many  portions  of  Kentucky,  Ohio  and  Indiana  furnish  from  these 
groups  (the  Trenton  Limestone  and  Hudson  River  Group,)  some  layers- 
of  solid  crystalline  limestone,  less  replete  with  fossils  than  other  adjoin- 
ing layers,  which  by  this  selection  will  be  found  well  adapted  for  build- 
ing, especially  for  foundations,  where  great  sustaining  strength  is  re- 
quired. 

As  will  be  seen  by  an  examination  of  the  sub-section  giving  in  detail 
the  counties  in  Indiana  of  this  geological  formation,  there  is  no  lack  of 
rock  affording  strength  and  durability  sufficient  for  ordinary  building 
purposes;  the  presence  occasionally  of  organic  remains  prevents  some 
varieties  from  receiving  a  regular  face  in  dressing;  yet  shells  are  some- 
what abundant  in  the  beautiful  and  durable  marble  of  Jefferson  county, 
fully  described  in  the  former  report  of  the  late  State  Geologist.  The 
recommendation  of  that  marble  as  a  good  building  material  belongs- 
here,  although  the  county  is  described  among  the  Upper  Silurian,  be- 
cause the  bed  is  of  Lower  Silurian  age,  being  found  on  the  Ohio  river 
beneath  the  Upper  Silurian  formations,  which  mainly  characterized  the 
upland  of  that  county. 

The  same  blue  limestones,  above  alluded  to,  can  be  found  abundantly 
through  the  counties  of  this  section,  for  the  construction  of  turnpikes, 
Mnd,  by  selection,  the  rock  burns  also  into  a  good,  strong  quick  lime, 
well  adapted  for  mortar,  although  not  so  much  sought  after  for  hard- 
finishing  or  whitewashing  as  the  lighter  colored  varieties  furnished 


t)F  INDIANA.  35 


from  the  sub-carboniferous  limestones.  No  extensive  beds  of  hydraulic 
limestone  have  yet  been  found  in  the  Lower  Silurian,  although  a  de- 
posit near  Connersville  partakes  of  that  character.  Neither  is  this  the 
formation  in  which  we  are  most  apt  to  find  beds  of  marl  •  yet  some  of 
the  decomposing,  marlites  have  to  some  extent  the  properties  of  the 
less  calcareous  marls.  In  this  connection  we  must  remember  that  the 
term  marl  is  rather  indefinite,  as  Prof.  Johnson,  in  his  agricultural! 
chemistry,  giving  the  analysis  of  one  variety  having  only  about  8  per- 
cent, of  carbonate  of  lime,  while  another  has  over  85  per  cent. 

Gypsum  and  potters'  clay  are  not  so  usually  found  in  this  as  in  some- 
other  geological  formations,  and  our  south-eas'ern  counties  form, 
apparently  no  exception  to  the  rule,  for  no  such  deposits  we-wj  brought., 
under  our  notice  in  the  Lower  Silurian  formation. 

C lay  for  fire  brick,  demanding  a  freedom  from  limey  magnesia  and? 
iron,  would  not  be  apt  to  occur  in  regions  where  the-  ROC ks  furnish,  by, 
their  disintegration,  those  ingredients  detrimental  to  fire  clay,  but  bene-. 
ficial,  as  already  remarked,  in  soils  otherwise  suitable  for  the  growth, of; 
corn,  small  grain  and  grasses. 

SUBSECTION  4. — THE  METALS  IN  THE  LOWER:  SILURIAN  FORMATION  OF- 
INDIANA. — Iron,  the  most  truly  valuable  «>tf  a-11  metals,  is  more  generally;- 
found  in  the  Carboniferous  than  in  the*  Silurian  system,  consequently:- 
we  do  not  find  any  important  deposits  in  these  counties  of  Indiana*. 

Gold,  hitherto  washed  in  our  State  only  from,  the  Quaternary  depos- 
its, cannot  be  expected  to  be  in  an-y  considerable  quantity  in.  the  Lower 
Silurian  formation  of  Indiana,  because  tho  Drift  has  been  mainly  ur- 
reatod  somewhat  north  of  them,  as  we  shall  see  hereafter.  Silver,  in 
the  United  States,  has  been  found  native  at  a  few  localities,  but  is  more 
usually  associated,  with  native  copper,  as  in  Michigan,  or  with  galena, 
to  the  amount  sometkraes  of  three  per  cent,  hi  those  lead  ores  ot  the 
Western  States.  Therefore,  it  is  not  impossible  that  some  might  exist 
in  the  galena  of  these  counties.  Galena,  or  sulphuret  of  lead,  is  found 
most  abundantly  in  the  Silurian  system  of  Iowa  and  Wisconsin,  there- 
fore we  might  not  unreasonably  expect  to  find  this  ore  in  these  comities 
of  Indiana.  We  were  shown  several  localities  in  Ohio  county  where  at 
former  periods  galena  had  been  taken  out;  but  the  indications  did  not 
promise  a  large  yield,  so  far  as  we  could  judge  from  a  harried  inspec- 
tion in  the  midst  of  very  heavy  rain.  Copper  is  generally  found  in  the- 
United  States  either  native,  as  about  Lake  Superior,  or  in  the  form  of 
oxides,  sulphurets  or  carbonates,  as  in  Pennsylvania,  New  Jersey,  North 
Carolina,  Tennessee,  and  other  States.  In  some  of  those  luealities  it 


36  GEOLOGICAL  RECONNOISSANCE     ( 

occurs  in  Trappean  dikes  or  walls  of  upheaval.  Such  igneous  rocks  not 
coming  to  the  surface  in  Indiana,  veins  of  metallic  copper  are  not  very 
likely  to  be  found.  Some  masses  of  copper  picked  up  in  Indiana  were 
.evidently  rounded  by  attrition,  and  had  been  transported  by  the  Drift 
probably  from  the  region  of  Lake  Superior. 

No  other  metals  have  as  yet  been  detected  in  considerable  quantity  in 
our  Lower  Silurian  formation. 

SUB- SECTION  5. — THE  GROWTH  OF  TIMBER  AND  OTHER  LEADING  VEGETA- 
TION.— As  might  be  expected  from  the  considerable  amount  of  clay, 
derived  from  the  marlites,  Beech  timber  is  very  abundant  in  the  Lower 
Silurian  counties;  perhaps  it  may  be  correctly  represented  as  the  prev- 
alent forest  growth.  By  an  analysis  of  the  ashes  of  beech,  that  tree 
evidently  requires  for  its  growth  considerably  more  lime  (42.6  per  cent.) 
and  of  phosphoric  acid  (5.7)  than  the  coniferous  trees,  such  as  the 
Pitch  Pine,  stated  by  Prof.  Johnston,  in  his  Agricultural  Chemistry,  to 
afford  27.2  of  lime,  and  1.8  of  phosphoric  acid.  These  inorganic  mat- 
ters, as  already  shown,  are  abundant  in  our  blue-limestone.  Besides 
Beech,  however,  Sugar  Maple,  Oaks,  and  Poplar  or  Tulip  tree  are  not 
uncommon.  In  one  part  of  Union  county,  grey  and  blue  Ash,  and 
some  Black  Walnut,  were  added  to  the  above  list;  and  on  the  cele- 
brated Walnut  Plains,  near  Jacksonburg,  Wayne  county,  White  Wal- 
nut and  some  Wild  Cherry  combined  with  the  majestic  Poplar  (Lirio- 
dendron  tulipifera)  and  stately  Beech  to  beautify  the  landscape.  In  the 
details  of  this  county  will  be  found  mention  of  a  species  of  Locust  tree 
resembling  the  Black  Locust,  in  addition  to  the  abundant  Sugar  Maple, 
White  Oak  and  Black  Walnut. 

Everywhere  along  the  lines  of  railroads  traversing  this  section  of 
•country,  piles  of  staves,  hoop- poles,  &c.,  evinced  the  fact  that,  notwith- 
standing our  well-known  lavish  destruction  of  the  primeval  forest,  a 
.dense  growth  of  tine  timber  still  blesses  this  as  well  as  many  other  por- 
tions of  our  State. 

The  apple  and  most  other  fruit  trees  prove,  by  analysis  of  their  ashes, 
that  they  demand  also  considerable  supplies  of  lime.  As  might  be  ex- 
pected, therefore,  orchards  thrive  well  here,  as  indeed  in  most  parts  of 
Indiana,  (except  that  the  peach  trees  in  the  northern  parts  were  killed 
some  years  since  by  severe  frost;)  several  fine  nurseries  were  also  no- 
ticed, and  the  osage  hedges  testified  that  only  correct  culture,  close  cut- 
ting the  second  and  third  years,  with  some  trimming  afterwards,  is 
wanting  to  make  these  supply  good  enclosures  when  timber  becomes 
scarce. 


OF  INDIANA.  37 


SUB-SECTION  b. — MINERAL  AND  OTHER  SPRINGS,  ARTESIAN  WELLS,  &c. — 
Some  of  the  counties  in  the  Lower  Silurian  formation  are  probably  to- 
pographically higher  than  any  olher  portions  of  Indiana,  portions  ot 
Wayne  near  Randolph  and  Henry,  as  well  as  of  Fayette  near  Rush 
county,  also  the  region  near  the  line  of  junction  between  Decatur  and 
Franklin,  being,  according  to  my  barometrical  estimates,  made  at  vari- 
ous times,  fully  1,000  feet  above  high  tide  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  That 
this  region  is  the  highest,  is  further  indicated  by  the  fact  that  our  hirgest 
streams  take  their  rise  in  this  section  of  our  fetate.  The  Wabash  heads 
in  Ohio  near  Randolph,  and  the  west  fork  of  White  River  has  its  source 
in  that  county.  The  east  branch,  or  Driftwood  fork,  of  White  river, 
heads  in  Henry  county  near  Randolph,  and  Whitewater  takes  its  ori- 
gin chiefly  in  Wayne. 

But,  to  prove  this  matter  incontestibly,  I  would  refer  the  reader  to 
the  table  of  altitudes  in  Indiana,  reported  to  the  Legislature,  Jan.  20th, 
1836,  by  Messrs.  H.  Stansbury  and  J.  L.  Williams,  Civil  Engineers,  a 
copy  of  which  report  was  politely  furnished  me  by  the  latter  gentle- 
man. 

These  tables  give  two  hundred  and  eight  different  altitudes,  from 
surveys  made.  1.  Along  Whitewater  valley;  2.  From  Indianapolis  to 
Lawrenceburg  ;  3.  From  Indianapolis  to  Madison  ;  4.  From  Indianapo- 
lis to  Evansville;  5.  From  Terre  Haute  to  Evansville;  6.  From  New 
Albany  to  Vincennes;  7.  From  New  Albany  to  Crawfordsville ; 
8.  From  Indianapolis  to  LaFayette;  9.  From  Indianapolis  to  Wabash 
and  Erie  Canal;  10.  From  State  Line  to  Terre  Haute;  11.  From  Lake 
Michigan  to  the  Wabash  and  Erie  Canal ;  12.  Levels  in  various  sec- 
tions of  the  State. 

The  level  at  three  places  in  the  Lower  Silurian,  near  its  junction 
with  the  Upper,  exceeded  1,000  feet  above  high  tide  in  Hudson  River; 
the  summit  between  Sand  and  Salt  Creeks,  near  the  eastern  line  of 
Rush  county,  and  only  a  short  distance  from  three  other  counties, 
Fayette,  Franklin  and  Decatur,  being  the  highest  point  in  the  Table  oi 
Altitudes,  1057  feet  above  high  tide.  But  one  other  level  in  the  State, 
examined  by  these  surveys,  attained  over  1,000  feet ;  that  point  is  the 
summit  between  the  head  waters  of  White  Lick  and  Eel  River,  in  Hen- 
dricks,  near  Boone  and  Montgomery  counties,  part  of  the  Knob  or 
Sub-carboniferous  Sandstone  formation. 

As  might  be  anticipated,  although  some  portions  of  the  extreme 
summit  levels  are  deficient  in  full  supplies  of  good  water,  yet  the  major- 
ity of  the  blue  limestone  region  is  well  watered.  Portions  of  the 


38  GEOLOGICAL  RECONNOISSANCE 


northern  counties  in  this  formation  are  partially  covered  with  Drift, 
and,  by  digging  through  (this,  or  even  only  a  portion  of  those  quater- 
nary deposits,  sometimes  only  twelve  to  twenty  feet,  good  water  is  often 
reached,  which  has  filtered  through  these  more  porous  materials,  and 
been  arrested  by  an  impervious  substratum,  either  of  quaternary  clay 
or  of  Lower  Silurian  rocks. 

With  regard  to  Artesian  wolls  in  this  region,  the  theoretical  proba- 
bilities are  rather  against  their  success,  because  greater  heights  of  land 
are  not  likely  to  be  found  in  the  vicinity  dipping  their  beds  beneath 
these  localities,  and  sending  water  along  an  impervious,  inclined  stratum 
of  rock  under  tire  artesian  boring,  thus  furnishing  head  enough  to  raise 
the  water  in  the  tubing  to  the  same  height  from  which  it  originally 
descended.  In  other  words,  success  is  more  likely  to  occur  in  beds 
having  a  synclinal  axis,  or  converging  slopes,  than  in  strata  having  an 
anticlinal  axis,  or  parting  slopes. 

Several  Artesian  wells  are  to  be  found  in  Rush  county,  west  of  these 
described  heights,  and  usually  chalybeate  in  their  character;  they  will 
be  more  fully  described  in  speaking  of  the  Upper  Silurian  formation, 
and  are  only  mentioned  here  to  show  that  they  occurred  where  theoret- 
ically we  might  expect  them.  As  the  expense  of  verifying  this  matter 
is  not  very  great,  probably  one  dollar  per  foot  for  a  boring  of  moderate 
depth,  when  the  object  of  thus  finding  artesian  water  is  very  great,  the 
most  advisable  plan  seems  for  those  interested  to  unite  and  test  it  prac- 
tically. 'I he  water  generally  is,  as  we  might  expect,  hard  from  the 
limestone;  and  mineral  springs,  some  sulphurous,  some  chalybeate  and 
some  saline,  are  not  uncommon;  one  which  I  examined,  in  Union 
county,  is  strongly  chalybeate,  in  other  words,  impregnated  with  iron. 

SUB- SECTION  7. — MISCELLANEOUS  FACTS  REGARDING  DISEASES,  &c. — In 
former  years  there  was  a  considerable  amount  of  milk-sickness  in 
Franklin  county ;  but  as  usual  under  cultivation,  it  is  disappearing. 
The  member  from  the  agricultural  District  in  which  several  of  these 
blue  limestone  counties  are  situated,  reports  the  ratio  of  the  diseases  to 
which  the  inhabitants  of  those  regions  are  subject,  to  be  about  the  fol- 
lowing: 

Typhus  and  typhoid  fevers,  about 20  per  cent. 

Bilious,  remitting  and  intermitting,  about,.. 40  per  cent. 

Consumption,  about 20  per  cent. 

Rheumatism  and  other  inflammatory  diseases,  about 20  per  cent. 


OF   INDIANA,  39 


Little  or  no  hog  cholera  has  shown  itself;  potatoes,  however,  the 
same  gentleman  describes  as  frequently  diseased,  and  insects  injurious 
to  agriculture  quite  abundant. 

SUB-SECTION  8. — SPECIFIC  ENUMERATION  OF  THE  FOSSILS  MOST  COMMON  IN 
THE  LOWER  SILURIAN  COUNTIES  OF  INDIANA. — The  fossils  found  in  these' 
-early  formations  throughout  the  Globe  are  chiefly  Corals,  Mollusks  and 
Triiobites,  occasionally  a  star-fish  or  a  stone-lily  (crinoid ;)  also,  some 
marine  plants.  The  most  common  in  our  Indiana*  Lower  Silurian  are 
the  following : 

A.  RADIATES. — • 

a'.  Amorphozoa:  Syphouia  (Scyphia,)  digitata,  (Owen.) 

a.  Corals.     Chsetetes  petropolitanus,  (lycoperdon,) 

C.  rugosus, 

d  frondosus,  [0.  Pavonia,] 

C.  mammulatus, 

Oh.  trigiri, 

C.  ramosus, 

Protarcea,  (Porites,  Hall,)  vetusta, 

Streptelasma  corniculum, 

Columnaria   alveolata,    (Favistella   stellata,  Hall,) 

[Constellaria  antheloidea,] 
Fungia  corrugata. 

b.  Acalephs. 

c.  JEchinoderms:  subdivision,  Crinoids. 

Glyptocrinus  do.  decadactylus,  [Hemicyetites  para- 
sitica,  Hall.] 

B.  MOLLUSKS. — 

d.  Molluscoid  Bryozoa.    Escharopora  (Ptilodictya,  Lonsd.,) 

recta. 

<?.  Brachiopods.     Rhynehonella,  (atrypa)  increbescens, 
Orthis  occidentalis, 
O.  testudinaria, 

O,  (Spirifer)  biforatus,  var  lynx, 
Strophomena  (Leptsena)  alternata, 

*  Some  characteristic  fossils,  found  in  Ohio  or  Kentucky,  very  near  some  of  those  Indiana 
counties,  are  given  between  brackets,  as  being  provisionally  extra-limital.  Doubtless,  when 
time  permits  a  more  extended  search,  they  can  be  found  in  Indiana  also;  the  names  in  paren- 
thesis are  those  formerly  used  instead  of  the  name  immediately  preceding,  which  is  selected 
ns  being  now  most  generally  approved. 


40 


GEOLOGICAL   RECONNOISSANCE 


Leptsena  sericea, 

Strophomena  planumbona, 

S.  tenuistriata, 

S.  alternistriata, 

S.  deltoidea. 
/.  Conchtfers.     Ambonycbia  radiata, 

Modiolopsis  modiolaris, 
Orthonota  parallela, 

O.  eontracta,  [Tellinomya  (Nucula)  levata,} 
g.  Pteropods.     [Conularia  Trentonensis.] 
A.  Gasteropoda.    Bellerophon  bilobatus, 

Plenrotomaria  percarinata, 

P.  (Cyclonema)  bilix, 

Murcbisonia  bicincta  and  bellacincta, 

Cyrtolites  ornatus. 
i.   Cephalopods.     Ortboceras  vertebrate, 

[Cyrtoccraa  constrictostriatum,] 

Trocbolites  ammonius. 

C.  ARTICULATES. — 

k.   Worms. 

I.   Crustaceans:  subdivision  Trilobites. 
Calymene  senaria, 
Asapbus  canalis,  (Isotelus  gigas)  [Trinucleus  con- 

centricns,  Ceraurus  pleurexanthemus.] 
[Cy-tberina  Baltica.] 
1  in.  Insects. 

D.  VERTEBRATES. — 

n.  Fishes} 
o.  Reptiles, 
p.  Birds, 
q.  Mammals. 

SUB-SECTION  9. — DETAILED  DESCRIPTION  OF  EACH  COUNTX  IN  THE  FORMA- 
TION.— 

WAYNE  COUNTY. 

The  greater  part  of  this  fine  county  is  of  Lower  Silurian  formation. 
Dr.  Plummer,  of  Richmond,  who,  in  Silliman's  Journal,  gave  a  minute 
description  of  the  vicinity  of  that  town,  informed  me  he  found  Upper 
Silurian  fossils,  not  many  miles  off,  on  Elkborn.  I  obtained  them  also 


OF  INDIANA.  41 


at  Macksville,  in  Randolph  county,  and  therefore  consider  the  out-crop 
of  the  Upper  and  Lower  Silurian  junction  to  be  at  no  great  distance 
from  the  line  uniting  Randolph  and  Wayne. 

The  soil  of  the  latter  county  is  generally  sufficiently  rich,  very  dura- 
ble, and  well  adapted  to  the  growth  of  grasses.  Hence  this  is  a  great 
grazing  county,  and  sends  remarkably  fine  stock  to  our  fairs  and  mar- 
kets. 

The  calcareous  ingredients  derived  from  the  disintegration  of  the 
Blue  Limestone  in  this  county,  are  intermingled,  to  a  considerable  ex- 
tent, with  the  Drift,  which  somewhat  modifies  and  even  improves  the 
soil.  In  portions  of  the  county  bowlders  are  abundant,  in  others  the 
Quaternary  is  represented  chiefly  by  gravel,  from  a  few  feet  thick  to  40 
and  50  feet,  furnishing  materials  for  their  excellent  turnpikes,  the 
coarser  gravel  being  laid  on  first,  and  the  finer  serving  to  consolidate 
the  road  into  a  smooth  pnd  hard  surface.  From  beneath  this  gravel- 
drift  numerous  springs  flow  out  after  reaching  the  clay,  rock,  or  other 
impervious  substratum,  thereby  gradually  excavating  small  valleys  of 
deundation  at  intervals,  sufficient  to  produce  the  gentle  undulations  so 
important  to  thorough  drainage  of  the  country,  the  whole  thus  con- 
ducing admirably  to  unite  all  the  requisites  for  a  fine  grazing  region. 

As  bearing  on  the  Drift  phenomena  of  this  secti  m  of  country  may 
be  mentioned  here  the  remarkable  natural  channel,  exposed  during  road 
excavations.  Crossing  White  Water  on  the  bridge  at  Richmond,  and 
ascending  the  opposite  hill,  by  the  Dayton  turnpike,  (National  Road,) 
under  the  polite  gui-lance  of  Mr.  Dennis,  now  Secretary  of  the  State 
Board  of  Agriculture,  and  of  Mr.  Bennett,  member  for  that  agricultu- 
ral District,  we  had  an  opportunity  of  ascertaining  that  this  channel,  so 
far  as  exposed,  bears  in  a  direction  west  of  north  and  east  of  south,  and 
must  be  more  than  a  hundred  feet  above  the  present  level  of  the  river. 

At  the  office  of  the  Palladium,  through  the  kindness  of  Mr.  D.  P. 
Holloway,  member  of  Congress  from  that  District,  I  obtained  some  in- 
teresting samples  of  soil  for  analysis:  one  of  rich  black  meadow  muck, 
the  other  poor  unproductive  upland,  with  a  view  to  ascertaining  whether 
they  might  be  advantageously  mixed.  Our  limited  means  have  pre- 
vented these  as  yet  from  being  reached  in  analysis,  as  selection  had  first 
to  be  made  by  Dr.  Peter  cf  a  few,  such  as  were  more  especially  charac- 
teristic of  each  geological  formation. 

As  might  be  anticipated  the  scenery  is  pleasing,  fine  farms  succeed- 
ing each  other  in  rapid  succession,  as  we  pass  along  the  line  of  the  In- 
diana Central  Railroad,  through  Dublin,  Cambridge  City,  Germantown 


42  GEOLOGICAL    RECONNOISSANCE 

and  Centreville  to  Richmond.  Also,  afterwards  in  going  South,  with 
our  camp,  through  Milton  towards  Fayette  county.  Good  barns, 
meadows,  shocked  corn,  orchards,  a  nursery  near  Centreville,  occasional 
Osage  Orange  hedges  and  small  fields  of  Sorghum,  and  woods'  pastures 
with  fine  cattle  and  sheep,  all  indicated  a  high  state  of  agricultural  de- 
velopment, due,  doubtless,  partly  to  natural  advantages,  but  greatly  to 
the  intelligence  and  industry  of  the  Quakers  or  Friends,  who  exten- 
sively colonized  this  county  by  emigration  from  Ohio. 

Good  building  materials  are  by  no  means  deficient.  By  judicious  se- 
lection out  of  the  fifty  of  sixty  feet  of  Blue  Limestone  which  was 
measured  from  White  Water  up  to  the  town  of  Eichmond,  solid,  dura- 
ble rock  can  be 'obtained,  although  usually  only  from  six  inches  to  a 
foot  thick.  Nearly  the  same  observations  would  apply  to  the  quarries 
of  Mr.  Eft  Henby  and  of  Mr.  Burgess,  which  were  examined  near 
Cambridge  City,  as  well  as  probably  to  other  localities  in  Wayne  county ; 
the  drift,  as  already  mentioned,  furnishes  fine  materials  for  road  making. 

This  county  is  well  timbered,  Beech  prevailing  to  some  extent,  also 
Sugar-Maple,  Black  Walnut  and  Hickory.  A  few  miles  north  of  Cam- 
bridge City  we  observed  a  small  swamp-muck  prairie,  interspersed  with 
willows,  flags  and  boneset,  (Eupatorium  perfoliatum.)  and  skirted  by 
slopes  made  up  chiefly  of  gravel. 

There  is  an  interesting  water  fall,  about  twenty  feet  in  height,  some 
five  miles  south  of  Richmond,  which  we  regretted  not  having  time  to 
visit. 

The  Lower  Silurian  rocks  of  this  county  afforded,  both  at  Richmond 
and  Cambridge  City,  fossils  from  the  middle  and  upper  groups  of  that 
formation,  being  partly  characteristic  of  the  Trenton  Limestone,  de- 
scribed in  the  New  York  Geological  Reports,  but  more  especially  of 
the  Hudson  River  group,  such  as  I  had  found  near  the  south-eastern 
limit  of  this  same  Silurian  upheaval,  while  I  resided  in  Nicholas  coun- 
ty, Kentucky,  near  the  well-known  Blue  Lick  Springs.  The  organic 
remains  mostly  abundant  near  Richmond  are  Chyetetes  mammulatus, 
Rhynchonella  (Atrypa)  increbescens,  Ambonychia  radiata,  Cyrtolites 
ornatus,  Bellerophon  bilobatus,  Pleurotomaria  (Cyclonema)  bilex,  and 
similar  associate  fossils. 

The  drift  phenomena  near  Cambridge  City  are  highly  interesting, 
furnishing  a  fine  opportunity  for  examining  and  studying  the  polished 
and  grooved  surfaces  of  rocks,  supposed  to  have  received  their  polish 
and  peculiar  marking  partly  from  the  gyrations  incident  to  the  some- 
what arrested  progress  of  the  hard,  movable,  superincumbent  masses, 


OF  INDIANA.  43 


partly  from  more  direct  linear  transportation  over  them  of  the  hard 
bowlders  of  other  materials  of  the  drift  period. 

Mr.  Ilenhy's  quarry,  above  alluded  to,  furnished  fine  polished  and 
striated  slabs  for  the  State  collection.  The  location  is  on  the  east  half 
of  the  north-east  quarter  of  section  33,  township  10  north,  range  12 
east,  about  a  mile  west  of  White  Water,  in  a  bottom  partially  denuded 
and  partially  covered  with  the  Quaternary  bowlders  and  gravel;  a  foot 
or  two  of  clay  usually  intervening  between  the  rock  and  the  gravel. 
The  bed  rock  has  a  slight  westerly  dip,  the  seams  or  joints  are  about 
five  to  seven  feet  apart,  and  the  surface  of  the  rocks  quarried  in  this  re- 
gion is  smoothed  and  polished  as  if  by  the  long  grinding  under  water  of  % 
hard  materials.  These  polished  slabs,  when  closely  examined,  are 
found  frequently  to  have  grooves  running  along  them,  sometimes  only 
a  few  inches  apart,  and  commonly,  according  to  Mr.  Henby's  observa- 
tions, these  grooves  and  also  the  seams  run  a  little  north  of  north-east, 
consequently  also  south  of  south-west. 

This  would  perhaps  indicate  that  the  drift  which,  judging  from  the 
general  phenomena  in  Indiana,  usually  pursued  a  direction  somewhat 
west  of  north  to  south  of  east,  had  been  arrested  by  the  Silurian  hills, 
probably  constituting  the  highest  ground,  partly  above  the  water  level 
of  that  period,  partly  beneath  it,  and  that  the  stranded  materials,  now 
arrived  in  a  latitude  warm  enough  to  melt  portions  of  the  transporting 
ice,  were  carried  over  the  underlying  rocks  so  long  as  to  rub  them 
smooth,  then  to  send  some  of  the  harder  and  not  yet  detached  bowlders 
in  a  direction  a  little  south  of  south-west,  to  pass  around  the  Silurian 
elevation.  The  clay  of  abrasion  derived  chiefly  from  the  mudstones  or 
argillaceous  materials  of  the  Silurian  rock,  would  be  apt  to  settle  first 
somewhat  u  neon  form  ably  on  the  gently  inclined  rocky  bed,  and  super- 
imposed on  this  clay,  finally  rested  the  gravel  and  other  quaternary 
materials,  as  the  quiet  waters  gradually  receded,  leaving  layers  of 
coarser  and  finer  sand,  gravel  and  silt,  so  horizontally  deposited  as  to 
furnish  no  angle  appreciable  by  a  delicate  clinometer  compass. 

Dr.  Johnson,  of  Cambridge  City,  who  had  kindly  directed  us  to  the 
above  interesting  quarry,  also  showed  us  a  slab  from  Jacksonburg, 
about  five  miles  north-east  of  the  other  locality.  The  same  gentleman 
also  gave  us  fragments  of  some  rare  bowlders  from  the  drift  of  that  re- 
gion. 


44  GEOLOGICAL   RECONNOISSANCE 

UNION  COUNTY. 

This  county,  like  several  others  in  the  Blue  Limestone,  is  topograph- 
ically high,  nearly  as  much  so  as  any  portion  of  Indiana,  parts  of  it 
being  at  least  a  thousand  feet  above  high  tide. 

By  reference  to  the  report  of  Dr.  Peter  it  will  be  seen  that  the  soils 
of  this  county,  two  samples  of  which  have  already  been  analyzed,  sus- 
tain the  character  given  to  those  of  the  Lower  Silurian  formation  gen- 
erally, having  in  the  virgin  soil  a  fair  per  eentage  of  those  essentials  to 
fertility,  lirne,  potash,  soda,  magnesia,  phosphoric  and  sulphuric  acids. 

The  main  agricultural  products  of  this  county  are  corn  and  hogs; 
gradually,  no  doubt,  more  meadows  will  be  introduced  into  their  farm- 
ing system. 

Near  Liberty,  the  county  seat  of  Union,  measuring  from  Silver 
Creek  up,  are  found  exposed  about  thirty-five  feet  of  blue  limestone, 
overlaid  by  forty  to  fifty  of  drift.  Judicious  selection  here,  and  in  other 
portions  of  the  county  and  formation,  generally  affords  substantial,  if 
not  thick,  materials  for  many  building  purposes,  as  well  as  abundant 
"metal"  hard  enough  for  turi'piking. 

The  county  is  also  well  timbered,  the  prevailing  forest  growth  being 
Beech,  Oak,  Sugar-Maple,  Poplar*  and  Black  Walnut. 

Notes  were  taken  lor  the  future  examination,  if  opportunity  occur- 
red, of  a  Chalybeate  spring,  near  Liberty.  The  diggings  from  a  well 
in  the  same  locality  afforded  first  gravel,  then  sharp  sand,  sometimes 
compacted  into  absolute  rock. 

The  fossils  in  this  portion  of  the  Lower  Silurian  formation  are  very 
similar  to  those  found  at  Richmond,  Wayne  county.  The  most  pre- 
dominant are  Chsetetes  petropolitanus,  Protarsea  vetusta,  Steptelasma 
corniculum,  lihynchonella  (Atrypa)  increbescens,  Orthis  occidentalis, 
O  testinaria,  Strophomena  (Leptsena)  alternata,  and  Leptsena  sericea, 
Ambonychia  radiata  and  Cyrtolites  ornatus;  but  no  trilobites  that  we 
could  find  during  the  short  time  we  were  able  to  devote  to  the  search. 

*In  the  West,  where  we  use  the  term  poplar  as  applied  to  trees  or  plank,  we  always  mean 
to  designate  the  Tulip   tree  or  Liriodeudron  tulipifera,   not  any  of  the  family  of  populu 
which  includes  the  Cottonwood,  Aspen,  &c. 


OF   INDIANA.  45 


FAYETTE  COUNTY. 

Passing  from  the  northern  line  of  this  county  towards  Connersville, 
the  county  seat,  we  traveled  through  parts  of  the  valley  of  White  Wa- 
ter. Extensive  bottoms  rising  into  gentle  and  undulating  drift  eleva- 
tions, exhibited  fine  farms  and  the  prospect  of  abundant  corn  crops. 
Near  town  the  osage  hedges  betokoned  high  cultivation,  and  the  mill 
race,  with  extensive  buildings,  indicated  where  a  part,  at  least,  of  their 
staple  product,  wheat,  receives  its  preparation  for  the  flour  market. 
Pork  and  beef  are  dso  largely  produced  in  this  county.  Although  the 
soil  in  places  appeared  clayey,  indicated  by  the  ponds  along  the  road 
sides,  yet  it  was  susceptible  of  fine  pulverization  by  the  harrow,  and 
the  wheat  which,  on  the  19th  of  September,  the  day  we  passed  through 
Connersville,  had  already  been  put'in  on  several  farms,  was,  much  of 
it,  drilled  in  excellent  order.  This  system  of  drilling  wheat  appears  to 
be  rapidly  gaining  in  the  estimation  of  our  farming  community,  as 
rendering  it  less  liable  to  freeze  out,  besides  saving  seed  and  distribut- 
ing it  more  rapidly  than  even  a  long  experience  in  broadcast  sowing 
can  possibly  secure. 

The  prevailing  timber  is  Oak  and  Beech,  occasionally  thinned  out  so 
as  to  form  fine  woods  pastures,  in  which  the  blue  grass  (Poa  pratensis*) 
thrives  kindly. 

Building  materials  are  abundant,  rock  being  extensively  quarried  in 
tolerably  heavy  layers  at  several  places  near  the  county  line  of  Frank- 
lin, and  across  the  line  at  Somerset,  as  well  as  on  Williams'  Creek, 
near  which  locality  they  also  manufacture  hydraulic  cement  from  lime- 
stone. 

Adjoining  Williams'  Creek,  two  or  three  miles  west  of  Connersville, 
we  found,  in  about  twenty-five  feet,  vertical  thickness,  of  blue  lime- 
stone, interspersed  with  marlite,  abundant  samples  of  the  following 
fossils:  Chsetetes  petropolitanus,  Streptelasma  corniculum,  Rhnycho- 
nella  (Atrypa)  increbescens,  Strophomena  (Leptsena)  alternata,  8.  pla- 
nurnbona,  Leptsena  sericea,  Orthis  testudinaria,  portions  of  Calymene 
seuaria,  and  of  Asaphus  canalis,  (Isotelus  gigas.) 

In  traveling  towards  the  extreme  western  limit  of  Fayette,  about 
four  and  a  half  miles  from  the  Rush  county  line,  we  found,  at  a  deep 
natural  cut,  a  fine  exposure  of  the  upper  members  in  the  Lower  Silu- 

*Tlie  less  common  blue  grass  of  Botanists  is  Poe  compressa. 


46 


GEOLOGICAL   RECONNOISSANCE 


rian  formation,  surrounded  by  a  reddish  silieo-calcareous  rock,  appa- 
rently of  Upper  Silurian  age,  although  we  failed  to  find  an}7  fossils  in 
it.  The  natural  section*  furnished  in  this  hundred  and  ten  feet  expo- 
sure or  valley  of  denundatiori,  gave  the  following  succession  of  strata: 


Grey  limestone,  portions 
hydraulic/ 


SKC.  1,  NEAR  CONNKRSVII.LK,  FAYETTK  COUNTY.        Level  of  Williams'  Creek. 


Nearer  Connersville  the  member  (a)  in  the  above  series  had  a  great- 
er vertical  thickness,  comprising  in  the  descending  order  three  feet  of 
soil  and  subsoil,  twenty-five  feet  of  gravel,  ten  feet  of  sand,  six  feet  of 
blue  clay  and  twenty  feet  of  bowlders  intermingled  with  gravel. 

Soon  after  passing  the  locality  which  exhibited  section  1  we  ascended 
still  higher,  over  coarse  gravel  and  bowlders,  to  about  the  highest  land 
in  the  State;  the  Bar.  at  2  P.  M.  falling  to  28.97  inches,  although  it 
stood  a  few  hours  before  at  29.28  at  Connersville.  Allowing  that' it 
had  fallen,  as  it  often  does  in  the  afternoon,  about  2-100th,  still  we  had 
ascended  two  hundred  and  seventy  feet  after  leaving  Connersville.  We 
continued  sometime  on  this  elevated  plateau  with  but  little  variation  in 
the  Bar.,  passing  some  very  fine  farms  and  a  dense  growth  of  large 


*In  order  that,  the  general  reader  may  more  readily  understand  the  sections  given  in  this 
Report,  it  is  thought  useful  to  subjoin  the  following  description  and  illustration  of  the  mark- 
ings herein  adopted,  as  the  Normal  or 


OF  INDIANA. 


47 


Beech,  Sugar-Maple  and  Oak  timber,  with  Papaw  undergrowth,  even 
beyond  Vienna,  the  western  limit  of  the  county,  that  town  being  built 
in  Rush  up  to  the  Fayette  line. 

We  readily  perceive  from  observation  that  a  great  portion  of  the 
surface  soil  in  this  county  is  Drift,  amounting  sometimes  to  fifty  or  six- 
ty feet  in  veriical  thickness,  which  has  thus  greatly  modified  the  soil 
from  that  of  pure  Upper  Silurian  detritus. 

TYPICAL  FORM  OF  THE  SECTION. 


Feet. 


Character  of  Rock. 


Soil,  sand  or  fine  grave),  chiefly  re- 
cent Quaternary;  also,  tufas,  shell 
marls  and  bog  ores. 


Coarse  gravel  and  bowlders  of  the 
Drift  Period,  ako  conglomerates  of 
any  age. 


Shales — Silcioius,  alumineus  or  bi 
uminous. 


Con!. 
Iron  ore. 


Sandstones. 


Clays  or  marlite, 


Domtilite  Rock. 
(Magnebian  limestone.) 


Siliclous  or  aluminous  limestones,  or 
silicious  Domolite. 


Crystalline  limestones,  of  any  age. 


•c  a  3  oi 
"*&,*=* 
|-S  = 


Feet. 


450 


II 

!a 

Jl_ 

Feet. 


400 


350 


300 


250 


200 


150 


100 


50 


High  w  iter  in  nearest  stream  or  lake. 


DESCRIPTION  OR  EXPLANATION  OF  THE  NORMAL  OR  TYPICAL  SECTION. — In  the  column  on  the 
extreme  right  will  be  placed,  when  known,  the  level  above  the  sea,  obtained  partly  from 


48  GEOLOGICAL   RECONNOISSANCE 

On  portions  of  this  plateau  there  is  a  deficiency  of  running  water  for 
stock,  although  a  supply  is  obtained  on  many  portions  of  the  elevation 
by  digging  ten  or  fifteen  feet  through  bluish  clay,  when  they  reach 
gravel  and  usually  find  water  in  that  or  the  sand  overlying  an  impevious 
substratum.  It  is  commonly  hard  because  during  filtration  through 
the  superincumbent  Drift,  the  water  encounters  fragments  of  limestone. 
Notwithstanding  some  inconvenienceon,  this  score  of  a  scarce  supply 
in  dry  seasons,  there  are  farm  houses  on  the  plateau  in  Fayette  and 
the  adjoining  county  of  Rush,  as  fine  as  any  we  saw  in  the  State.  Some 
of  them  could  not  have  cost  less  than  four  or  five  thousand  dollars. 
The  style  of  architecture  is  elaborate  and  sometimes  highly  ornamental. 


EUet's  levels,  referable  to  high  tide  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  partly  from  the  levels  of  Messrs. 
Stansbury  and  Williams  above  high  tide  in  the  Atlantic,  where  it  ebbs  and  flows  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Hudson  river,  New  York. 

The  next  column,  on  the  left,  gives  the  heights  above  the  nearest  water  course,  say  usually 
high  water,  sometimes  however  low  water  in  the  Ohio  river,  if  near  it,  or  of  a  lake  or  rivulet. 
If  none  is  near,  the  unit  or  starting  point,  or  bench  from  which  we  level  up,  is  the  lowest 
adjacent  part  of  the  valley  or  deundaiion,  which  exposes  the  section.  This  scale  saves  the 
trouble  of  adding  together  the  separate  strata  beneath,  to  know  how  high  any  one  bed  is  in 
the  section. 

In  the  middle  column,  the  lithological  and  palceontological  character  of  the  rocks  is  given, 
and  in  the  next  column  on  the  left  the  relative  Geological  age  or  stratigraphical  formation. 

The  extreme  left  column  denotes  the  thickness  of  each  separate  or  subordinate  bed,  and  has 
a  letter  affixed  for  convenience  of  reference,  should  a  more  extended  description  in  the  text 
be  necessary. 

The  markings  in  the  wood-cut  attached  to  these  descriptive  sections,  although  arbitrary  are 
designed  to  be  uniform,  and  to  some  extent  appropriate,  for  the  similarity  of  lithological 
character,  thus:  soil,  sand,  fine  gravel,  shell  marls  and  calcareous  tufa,  or  bog  iron-ore  de- 
posits, usually  of  recent  Quaternary  age,  are  indicated  by  short  horizontal  lines  or  dots; 
coarse  gravel  and  bowlders  of  the  Drift  period,  as  well  as  conglomerates  of  any  age,  by  light 
rounded  fragments  in  a  shaded  ground;  shales  by  close,  waved,  continuous  lines;  iron  ore 
by  short  dark  marks  ;  coal  by  a  solid  black  band  ;  marls  and  clay  by  heavy,  straight  lines; 
sandstone  by  light,  continuous  straight  lines;  magnesian  limestones  (Dolomites)  by  fine  lines 
running  diagonally  from  right  to  left  downwards,  and  crossed  by  short,  light  marks;  silici- 
ous  and  aluminous  limestone,  or  silicious  maguesian  limestones,  are  indicated  by  similar  lig- 
nographing,  except  that  the  diagonal  lines  bear  from  left  to  right  downwards,  and  the  faint 
crop  marks  are  omitted  ;  crystalline  limestones,  finally,  are  indicated  by  the  imitation  or  sem- 
blance of  blocks  or  bedstones. 

The  indication  of  an  iron-ore  stratum  might  appropriately  have  been  placed  just  above  the 
coal  and  the  clay  bed  immediately  beneath;  but,  as  the  representation  of  a  normal  section  is 
only  designed  to  convey  an  idea  of  the  wood-cutting  employed  to  facilitate  the  more  ready 
understanding  of  lithological  character  in  a  rock,  irrespective  of  age  or  superposition,  the 
relative  placing  of  the  typical  strata  is  unimportant.  Sometimes  the  columns,  instead  of  oc- 
cupying the  exact  order  indicated  above,  may.  for  convenience,  be  reversed;  but  the  heading 
of  any  column  will  always  define  the  use  it  is  intended  to  subserve. 


OF    INDIANA.  49 


FRANKLIN   COUNTY. 

We  were  unavoidably  prevented  from  seeing  the  greater  part  of  this 
county,  although  it  was  included  in  our  projected  route  for  the  autumn 
of  1860.  The  western  portion,  which  we  visited,  appeared  a  new  and 
thriving  region  of  country,  settled  to  a  considerable  extent  by  -Ger- 
mans, who  are  erecting,  at  Enochsburgh,  a  substantial  Catholic  church  of 
stone,  The  material  is  obtained  from  quarries  in  that  vicinity,  some  of 
which  are  Upper  Silurian;  but  on  Salt  creek,  immediately  adjoining 
town,  the  formation  is  the  extreme  upper  part  of  the  Lower  Silurian, 
characterized  by  beds  composed  of  the  coral  designated  by  Prof.  Hall, 
in  his  New  York  Palaeontology,  as  Favistella  stellata,  from  Favus, 
honey-comb  and  stella,  a  star;  but  considered  by  Edwards  and  Haime, 
in  their  fine  Monograph  on  corals,  as  generically  and  specifically  identi- 
cal with  the  Columnaria  alveolata  of  Hall  himself,  as  well  as  of  Gold- 
fuss,  Brown  and  Edwards. 

The  specimens  which  we  collected  at  this  place,  at  Madison,  Jefier- 
son  county,  and  which  are  abundantly  found  on  University  Hill,  Nash- 
ville, Tennessee,  all  bear  the  characters  exhibited  by  Prof.  Hall  in  plate 
75,  fig.  1,  of  the  New  York  Palaeontology,  vol.  1,  while  a  sample  I  pos- 
sess from  Bourbon  county,  Kentucky,  by  the  striated  cell  walls  and  less 
extension  towards  the  centre  of  the  vertical  lamellae,  is  more  nearly 
represented  by  fig.  1,  in  plate  12  of  the  same  volume- 

A  splendid  mass  of  this  coral,  found  at  the  above  locality  on  Salt 
Creek,  in  Franklin  county,  already  alluded  to  as  weighing  153  pounds, 
was  conveyed  to  the  railroad  and  thence  sent  by  Adams  Express  to  the 
State  collection  at  Indianapolis,  where  it  can  now  be  seen. 

Associated  with  this  coral  were  Rhynchonella  (atrypa)  iucrebescens, 
Ambonychia  radiata,  Orthis  occidentals,  and  similar  fossils,  in  a  bed  of 
Blue  Limestone,  eight  or  ten  feet  in  thickness;  then  about  twenty  feet 
of  non-fossiliferous  rock  over  the  Favistella  bed,  with  several  intercala- 
tions of  chert. 

This  rock,  rejecting  the  chert,  is  burned  into  a  fair  quality  of  lime; 
it  seems,  judging,  in  the  absence  of  palseontological  evidence,  from  its 
lithological  character  and  its  position,  to  be  of  Upper  Silurian  age. 
Passing  westward  a  short  distance,  into  Decatur  county,  to  the  town  of 
Rossburg,  we  found,  in  ascending  a  hill,  fifty  to  sixty  feet  of  this  crys- 
talline limestone,  surmounted  by  about  a  hundred  feet  of  encrinital 
limestone,  and  fifteen  to  twenty  feet  of  Drift.  This  brought  us  to  the 
4 


50  GEOLOGICAL  RECONNOISSANCE 

general  level  of  the  country  at  New  Point,  on  the  Indianapolis,  Law- 
renceburg  and  Cincinnati  railroad,  which  station  my  barometer  made 
more  than  one  thousand  feet  above  the  level  of  the  ocean.  The  railroad 
survey  makes  the  summit  between  Sand  Creek  and  Salt  Creek,  which 
can  not  be  far  from  the  station,  one  thousand  and  fifty-seven  feet  above 
high  tide  in  the  Atlantic,  estimated  near  the  mouth  of  Hudson  river, 
New  York. 

In  speaking  of  the  quarries  near  the  line  of  Fayette  and  Franklin, 
allusion  was  already  made  to  those  of  Somerset,  in  this  county. 

There  is  said  to  be  considerable  diversity  in  the  character  of  the  soil 
in  Franklin  county,  which  may  arise  from  the  fact  that  portions  are 
derivable  from  the  Lower,  others  from  the  Upper  Silurian,  and  others 
again  from  the  Drift. 

The  timber  must  be  fine,  judging  from  the  large  quantities  of  lumber 
shipped  to  Cincinnati,  and  the  piles  of  shingles  and  staves  observed 
along  the  line  of  railroad. 

We  were  informed  that,  in  the  early  settlement  of  the  country,  milk- 
sickness  was  not  uncommon  in  portions  of  the  county;  which  may 
have  been  partly  due  to  the  saline  contents  of  the  shales,  before  expo- 
sure by  the  plow. 

Brookville,  the  county  seat,  is  remarkable  as  having  been  the  resi- 
dence of  Hon.  0.  H.  Smith,  Gov.  Wallace,  Grov.  Noble,  and  other  dis- 
tinguished men.  The  county  seems  also  to  have  been  a  favorite  resort 
of  the  Aborigines :  at  least  Indian  mounds  are  found  in  several  parts  of 

it. 

•  •  » '•('••  \  "iV!   *L-ov 

DEARBORN  COUNTY. 

This  county  is  generally  of  at  least  average  fertility,  and  even  towards 
the  river,  where  the  surface  level  is  broken,  we  observed,  near  where  the 
railroad,  in  approaching  Lawrenceburg,  the  county  seat,  had  cut  first 
through  the  hills,  covered  with  a  few  feet  of  Drift,  and  had  afterwards 
passed  with  a  rapid  down-grade,  through  rocky  cuts,  that  the  industry 
of  the  inhabitants  had  piled  the  loose  rocks  in  many  places  into  heaps, 
like  the  cairns  of  our  British  ancestors,  and  had  plowed,  probably  with 
the  hillside,  movable  mould-board,  and  planted  in  corn,  the  steep  moun- 
tain sides,  while  other  bluffs,  a  hundred  to  a  hundred  and  fifty  feet  high, 
afforded  nourishment  for  vineyards,  which  even  the  rapid  motion  of  the 
cars  permitted  us  to  observe  bore  abundant  and  heavy  clusters  of  grapes, 
as  we  neared  the  picturesque  Ohio,  showing  her  capabilities  of  emu- 
lating her  twin  sister  in  Europe,  the  Rhine,  with  her  vine-clad  hills. 


OF  INDIANA.  5J 


As  this  and  other  limestone  regions  in  Indiana  seem  well  adapted  for 
this  department  of  agricultural  industry,  a  few  words  calling  attention 
to  the  soil  best  adapted  to  this  growth,  as  well  as  other  points  bearing 
on  the  culture  of  the  vine  in  our  State  may  not  be  out  of  place,  when 
commenting  on  the  soils  of  Dearborn,  which  result  chiefly  from  the 
Blue  Limestone,  similar  to  that  around  Cincinnati. 

On  this  subject  I  ask  permission  to  extract  briefly  from  the  250th 
page  et  seq.  of  a  work  on  Fruit  and  Fruit  Trees,  by  the  late  great 
American  Horticulturist,  A.  J.  Downing,  where  he  makes  the  follow- 
ing forcible  and  appropriate  remarks :  "Vineyard  Culture. —  While 
many  persons  who  have  either  made  or  witnessed  the  failures  in  rais- 
ing the  foreign  grapes  in  vineyards  in  this  country,  believe  it  is  folly 
for  us  to  attempt  to  compete  with  France  and  Germany  in  wine-mak- 
ing, some  of  our  western  citizens,  aided  by  skillful  Swiss  and  German 
vine-dressers,  emigrants  to  this  country,  have  placed  the  fact  of  profit- 
able vineyard  culture  beyond  a  doubt,  in  the  valley  of  the  Ohio.  The 
vineyards  on  the  Ohio,  now  covering  many  acres,  produce  regular  and 
very  large  crops,  and  their  wine  of  the  different  characters  of  Medeira, 
Hock  and  Champagne,  brings  very  readily  from  seventy-five  cents  to 
one  dollar  a  gallon  in  Cincinnati.  The  Swiss,  at  Vevay,  first  com- 
menced wine  making  in  the  West,  but  to  the  zeal  and  fostering  care  of 
N.  Longworth,  Esq.,  of  Cincinnati,  one  of  the  most  energetic  of  west- 
ern horticulturists,  that  district  of  country  owes  the  firm  basis  on  which 
the  wine  culture  is  now  placed.  The  native  grapes,  chiefly  the  Cataw- 
ba,  are  entirely  used  there,  and  as  many  parts  of  the  middle  States  are 
quite  as  favorable  as  the  banks  of  the  Ohio  for  these  varieties,  the 
much  greater  yield  of  these  grapes  leads  us  to  believe  that  we  may  even 
here  pursue  wine-making  profitably. 

"  The  vineyard  culture  of  the  native  grape  is  very  simple.  Strong 
loamy  or  gravelly  soils  are  preferable — limestone  soils  being  usually  the 
best — and  a  warm,  open,  sunny  exposure  being  indispensable.  The  vines 
are  planted  in  rows,  about  six  feet  apart,  and  trained  to  upright  stakes 
or  posts  as  in  Europe.  The  ordinary  culture  is  as  simple  as  that  of  a 
field  of  Indian  corn,  one  man  and  horse,  with  the  plow  and  the  horse 
cultivator,  being  able  to  keep  a  pretty  large  surface  in  good  order. 
The  annual  prunning  is  performed  in  winter,  top-dressing  the  vines 
when  it  is  necessary  in  the  spring;  and  the  summer  work,  stopping 
side  shoots,  thinning,  tying  and  gathering  being  chiefly  done  by  women 
and  children.  In  the  fermentation  of  the  newly  made  wine  lies  the 
chief  secret  of  the  vigneron,  and,  much  as  has  been  said  of  this  in  books, 


52  GEOLOGICAL   RECONNOISSANCE 

we  have  satisfied  ourselves  that  careful  experiments,  or,  which  is  bet- 
ter, a  resort  to  the  experience  of  others,  is  the  only  way  in  which  to  se- 
cure success  in  the  quality  of  the  vine  itself." 

"We  may  have  occasion  to  revert  to  this  subject  again  in  connection 
with  other  counties  equally  well  adapted  for  the  culture  of  the  vine. 

Main  street  in  Lawrenceburgh  is  473  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea, 
and  high  water  in  the  Ohio,  at  the  same  place,  is  482  feet.  The  hills 
back  of  Lawrenceburgh  average  from  800  to  325  feet  above  high  water 
in  the  Ohio  at  that  place,  consequently  are  about  800  feet  above  the 
ocean.  The  upper  forty  or  fifty  feet  of  rock,  immediately  below  the 
soil,  comprise  layers  of  Blue  Limestone,  six  to  ten  inches  thick,  with 
alternations  of  an  occasional  foot  or  more  of  aluminums  shales  and  in- 
durated clays,  occasionally  rather  silicious,  with  very  few  fossils.  From 
the  upper  layers  of  limestones  just  mentioned,  which  the  workings  of 
quarries  near  there  afforded  a  fine  opportunity  to  inspect,  we  obtained 
Choetetes  ramosus  and  C.  pavonia,  a  small  variety  of  Orthis,  (Spirifer) 
biforatus,  also,  Orthis  testudinaria,  Ambonychia  radiata,  &c.,  while  the 
lower  beds,  some  seventy-five  or  eighty  feet  below  the  upper  quarry, 
afforded  some  six  to  ten-inch  limestones,  alternating  with  aluminous 
shales,  Orthis  occid<?ntalis,  Strophomena  (Leptsena)  alterimta,  and  a 
large  variety  of  Orthis  (Spirifer)  biforatus,  viz. :  0.  (Spirifer)  lynx. 

EIPLEY  COUNTY. 

Nut  having  had  an  opportunity,  as  we  anticipated,  to  visit  this  coun- 
ty, we  would  recommend  a  thorough  examination  to  be  made  hereaf- 
ter, particularly  of  the  quarries  five  or  six  miles  north-east  of  Versail- 
les, the  county  seat,  from  which  building  rock  is  obtained,  said  to  be 
the  best  that  can  be  found  in  the  Blue  Limestone  region  and  much  re- 
sembling that  of  Xenia,  Ohio. 

The  soil  is  represented  as  being,  in  portions,  not  so  fertile  as  that  of 
adjoining  counties;  perhaps  this  may  be  the  case  where  the  silico-cal- 
careous  rock  of  Upper  Silurian  elate  has  furnished  by  its  disintegration 
proportionally  more  silex  and  less  alumina  and  lime  than  the  detritus 
of  the  blue  limestone,  with  intervening  mudstones  and  marlites,  usually 
affords. 

I  was  informed  that  near  Versailles  petrified  wasps  nests  were  found. 
This  is  probably  the  Favistella  stellata  of  Hall,  and  would  indicate  that 
the  junction  of  the  two  sub-divisions  constituting  the  Silurian  System 
reached  the  surface  somewhere  not  far  distant  from  that  vicinity. 


OF  INDIANA.  53 


OHIO  COUNTY. 

4  •"        *'     **  * 

Although  somewhat  hilly,  this  county  is  productive.  The  chief  agri- 
cultural products  are  hay  and  Indian  corn,  besides  considerable  crops  of 
Irish  potatoes. 

Mr.  Rabb,  member  of  the  State  Board  of  Agriculture  for  that  Dis- 
trict, informs  me  that  the  Mormon  hay  press,  costing  about  $200.00,  is 
the  one  generally  employed  for  baling.  It  does  not  require  any  one  to 
tread  down  the  hay,  as  is  the  case  with  most  other  presses,  and  enables 
the  farmer,  in  consequence  of  the  power  with  which  it  compresses,  to 
put  from  one  hundred  to  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  tons  in  a  flat- 
boat,  when  with  a  common  press  he  could  only  put  about  fifty  tons. 
His  yield  is  about  one  and  a  half  to  two  tons  per  acre,  and  the  price 
about  $14.00  per  ton. 

This  gentleman,  according  to  the  report  given  in  the  second  number 
of  the  Indiana  Farmer  for  the  year  1860,  raised,  in  the  year  1857,  an 
average  of  eighty-three  and  a  half  bushels  of  corn  to  the  acre  on  his 
lands,  without  manure;  in  the  year  1859,  an  average  of  one  hundred 
and  twenty  bushels;  and  in  the  year  1859  an  average  of  one  hundred 
bushels.  His  wheat  crop,  for  the  past  three  years,  averaged  successive- 
ly thirty-one  and  a  quarter,  twenty-two  and  twenty-one  and  three- 
sevenths  per  acre ;  it  sold  at  $1.20  per  bushel.  The  net  profits,  after 
allowing  interest  on  investments,  were  $21.52  cents  per  acre,  on  the 
land  actually  under  cultivation,  or  nearly  $18.00  per  acre  on  the  whole 
farm,  including  the  woodland,  lanes  and  fence  corners.  This  profit 
would  entirely  pay  for  the  farms  in  seven  years,  besides  allowing  an  an- 
nual income  or  expenditure  for  the  purchaser  of  $482.00  during  that 
period;  or,  supposing  the  land  paid  for,  would  be  yearly  over  seventeen 
per  cent,  investment  on  the  capital.  Yet  merchants  (with  all  the  risk 
of  prices  and  wear  and  tear  of  their  constitutions  from  anxiety  and  in- 
door confinemenjt,)  often  consider  they  are  doing  a  thriving  business, 
when  their  net  profits  average  ten  or  twelve  per  cent,  per  annum.  The 
above  exhibit  is  encouraging  to  the  farmer,  and  to  the  young  man  se- 
lecting a  profession  for  life.  Tbe  whole  article  alluded  to,  detailing  the 
expenses,  mode  of  culture,  &c.,  is  well  worthy  the  attention  of  the 
community. 

Back  of  Rising  Sun,  the  Capital  of  this  county,  the  hills  rise  more 
than  four  hundred  feet  above"  low  water  in  the  Ohio  at  that  place.  The 
large  Orthis  (Spirifer)  lynx  is  common  near  the  top  of  the  hills,  also 


54  GEOLOGICAL  RECONNOISSANCE 

Leptsena  alternata  and  Orthoceratites,  while  lower  down  are  found  vast 
quantities  of  Lower  Silurian  corals,  particularly  of  the  genus  Chsetetes. 

In  this  region  considerable  quantities  of  lead  ore  (sulphuret)  have 
been  taken  out,  associated  with  sulphate  of  Baryta,  (Heavy  spar.)  In 
the  eastern  States  this  matrix  is  sometimes  ground  up  for  white  paint. 

The  abundant  lead  deposits  of  Iowa  and  Wisconsin  are,  accord- 
ing to  Prof.  Hall,  in  rocks  termed  Galena  limestone,  an  upper  member 
of  the  Trenton  limestone  group,  the  same  as  part  of  our  Blue  Lime- 
stone; but  there  the  lead  ore  is  usually  in  a  matrix  of  magnesian  lime- 
stone, more  easily  worked  than  the  Baryta,  while  in  Galla'tin  county, 
Illinois,  the  "lead-blossom"  is  Fluor  Spar,  (Fluate  of  lime.)  The  lead 
orft  of  Missouri  is  sometimes  in  Baryta,  at  other  time  associated  with 
calcareous  spar  (carbonate  of  lime)  and  occasionally  loose  in  the  soil,  a 
stiff  reddish  clay. 

It  is  not  improbable  that  further  search  may  develop  more  extensive 
deposits  of  lead  ore  in  this  and  other  portioi-s  of  Indiana,  the  geologi- 
cal formation,  as  just  remarked,  being  the  same  as  that  of  the  produc- 
tive lead  regions  of  Iowa  and  Wisconsin. 

On  these  hills,  along  with  Beech,  Oak,  Sugar  Maple  and  Walnut,  a 
tree  flourishes  abundantly,  (although  somewhat  infested  by  the  borer,) 
which  the  inhabitants  consider  a  variety  of  the  Black  Locust  (Kobi- 
nia  pseudo-acacia)  and  call  Yellow  Locust.  The  rain  was  falling  in 
torrents  when  we  made  our  examinations  here  for  the  lead  or  we  would 
have  endeavored  to  ascertain  whether  or  not  this  is  the  Yellow  Wood 
of  Tennessee,  described  by  Michaux  under  the  Latin  name  Virgilia 
lutea,  although  he  thinks  it  properly  belongs  to  the  genus  Sophora. 
It  grows  as  far  north  as  latitude  37°,  the  flowers  forming  white  pendu- 
lons  bunches,  a  little  larger  than  those  of  the  Black  Locust,  but  less 
odorliferous;  the  leaflets  are  also,  as  in  that  tree,  borne  on  short  petioles, 
supported  by  a  common  footstalk,  and  the  seeds  contained  in  a  pod,  re- 
sembling in  size  and  shape  that  of  the  above  mentioned  valuable  Eobi- 
nia.  The  wood  is  yellow,  affording  a  dye,  which,  according  to  the 
same  author,  only  requires  some  mordant  ensuring  permanence  to  be  of 
importance  to  the  arts. 

The  flying  weevil  (Anacampsis  cereal ella)  has  not  troubled  the  county 
for  the  last  twenty  years ;  the  Hessian  fly  (Cecidomyia  destructor)  but 
little,  nor  have  they  any  potato  rot.  Apples,  peaches  and  grapes  all 
thrive  well ;  the  two  former  fruits  are  cultivated  somewhat  extensively. 

Rising  Sun  is  said  to  be  remarkable  for  its  health,  which  doubtless  is 
partly  owing  to  its  being  well  drained.  It  is  situated  partly  on  a  late 


OF  INDIANA.  55 


Quaternary  gravel,  which,  in  places  near  here,  and  extending  across  the 
river  into  Kentucky,  has  been  consolidated,  and  afterwards  fissured  by 
large  vertical  seams,  so  as  to  receive  the  name  of  split-rock.  The  frag- 
ments of  this  conglomerate  being,  to  a  great  extent,  limestone,  would 
appear  to  assign  its  origin  rather  to  the  breaking  up  of  the  rocks  form- 
ing the  beds  of  the  Silurian  seas,  near  that  region,  than  to  the  debris 
and  detritus  derivable  from  the  more  northern  crystalline  rocks,  such 
as  scattered  bowlders  so  extensively  over  our  prairies,  and  even  left  some 
south  of  thirty-eight  (Agrees  north  latitude. 

No  milk-sickness  exists  nearer  than  the  Miami  bottoms  of  Ohio ;  ty- 
phoid and  intermittent  fevers  are  rare ;  consumption  somewhat  more 
prevalent;  but  the  three  physicians  of  the  place  are  said  to  find  most  of 
their  practice  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river. 

SWITZERLAND  COUNTY. 

This  county  is,  in  many  respects,  very  similar  to  the  county  just  de- 
scribed, therefore  most  of  the  observations  would  apply  to  it  also. 
Nearly  the  same  agricultural  products  are  raised,  which  were  enumer- 
ated for  Ohio  county,  except  that  probably  Switzerland  does  not  export 
quite  so  many  potatoes. 

In  former  years,  the  vine  was  largely  cultivated  by  the  hardy  and 
laborious  Swiss  who  settled  around  Yevay,  the  county  seat.  More  than 
20  years  since,  I  tasted  some  of  their  wine,  which  retailed  in  Cincinnati 
at  twenty-five  cents  per  bottle,  and  very  much  resembled  claret  in  taste 
and  appearance.  As  a  general  beverage  it  seemed  more  suitable  than 
the  stronger  and  more  expensive  products  of  the  Catawba.  The  variety 
cultivated  at  Yevay  was  a  native  sort,  described  by  Downing  under  the 
head  of  Alexanders'  Grape,  or  the  Schuylkill  Muscadell,  "not  unfre- 
quently  found  as  a  seedling  from  the  wild  Fox  grape,  on  the  border  of 
our  woods.  It  is  quite  sweet  when  ripe,  ^nd  makes  a  very  fair  wine  ; 
but  is  quite  too  pulpy  and  coarse  for  table  use."  To  this  Mr.  Long- 
worth  adds,  in  a  letter  to  Mr.  Downing,  in  1845  :  "The  cultivation  of 
the  grape  at  Yevay  is  on  the  wane,  as  they  cultivate  only  one  variety — 
the  Cape  grape — a  native  sort,  otherwise  known  as  the  Alexanders'  or 
Schuylkill  Muscadell.  From  it  they  make  a  rough,  red,  acid  wine." 

In  addition  to  what  was  already  said,  under  the  article  Dearborn 
county,  regarding  the  soil  best  adapted  for  the  growth  of  the  vine  and 
development  of  the  grape,  it  may  be  useful  here  to  add  a  few  more  ex- 
tracts on  this  subject  from  the  same  letter  of  Mr.  Longworth  :  "The 


56  GEOLOGICAL    RECONNOISSANCE 

grape  requires  a  good  soil,  and  is  benefited  by  well -rotted  manure.  For 
aspect  I  prefer  the  sides  of  our  hills,  but  our  native  grapes  would  not 
succeed  well  in  a  dry  sandy  soil,  particularly  the  Catawba,  which  is  a 
cousin  german  to  the  old  Fox  grape,  that  prefers  a  spot  near  a  stream 
of  water.  The  north  sides  of  our  hills  are  the  richest,  and  I  believe 
they  will,  as  our  summers  are  warm,  in  the  majority  of  seasons  produce 
the  best  crops."  *  *  * 

UI  believe  our  best  wine  will  be  made  in  latitudes  similar  to  ours.  A 
location  further  north  may  answer  well  if  the  ground  be  covered  with 
snow  all  the  winter  to  protect  the  vine.  It  is  to  this  cause  that  they  are 
indebted  for  their  success  in  the  cultivation  of  the  grape  in  the  Jura 
mountains,  in  France.  There  is  little  doubt  that  the  grape  will  bear 
better  with  us,  and  (judging  from  samples  I  have  had  from  the  first 
grower  at  the  South)  will  make  a  better  wine  here  than  in  Caro- 
lina." *  *  * 

u  One  favorable  year,  I  selected  from  the  best  part  of  one  of  my  vine- 
yards, the  fourteenth  part  of  an  acre,  the  product  of  which  was  105 
gallons — at  the  rate  of  1470  gallons  per  acre.  The  best  crop  I  have 
ever  seen  was  here,  at  the  vineyard  of  Mr.  Hackinger,  a  German,  about 
900  gallons  to  the  acre,  from  the  Catawba  grape." 

When  now  we  consider  that  Switzerland,  as  well  as  most  of  the  coun- 
ties described  in  this  section,  are  in  precisely  the  same  geological  forma- 
tion on  which  Mr.  Long  worth  and  others  have  for  many  ^ears  so  suc- 
cessfully and  profitably  cultivated  the  grape  and  manufactured  wine, 
besides  being  nearly  in  the  same  latitude,  it  seems  well  worthy  of  con- 
sideration whether  the  culture  might  not  be  advantageously  extended 
in  these,  and  other  counties  to  be  mentioned  hereafter,  particularly  on 
hill  sides  too  abrupt  for  easy  grain-tillage.  To  the  consideration  of 
profit  may  be  added  the  forcible  argument  that,  with  the  increase  of 
light  wines,  there  will  be,  in  all  probability,  a  proportionate  decrease  in 
the  production  and  consumption  of  those  fiery  alcoholic  beverages, 
over-stimulating  even  in  their  purity,  but  truly  poisonous,  health  and 
moral- destroy  ing  beverages,  in  their  too  frequently  drugged  adultera- 
tion. 

Further  observations  on  this  county  must  be  reserved  for  future  ex- 
aminations, as  the  corps  was  unable  to  visit  it  personally. 


OF  INDIANA.  57 


SEC.  II.— COUNTIES  IN  THE  UPPER  SILURIAN  FORMATION. 

SUB- SECTION  1. — GENERAL  CHARACTER  OF  THE  UPPER  SILURIAN  FORMA- 
TION AND  ITS  PREVALENCE  IN  INDIANA. — Eighteen  counties  may  be  assigned 
to  this  second  section,  as  deriving  the  character  of  their  soil  chiefly  from 
the  disintegration  of  the  Upper  Silurian  rocks,  viz.:  Adams,  Wells,  Hun- 
tington,  Wabash,  Miami,. Jay, Blackford,  Grant,  Howard, Delaware, Mad- 
ison, Randolph,  Henry,  Hancock,  Rush,  Decatur,  Jennings  and  Jefferson. 

The  same  formation  extends  in  a  north-west  direction  under  the  Drift 
to  Lake  Michigan,  probably  through  Lake,  Newton,  White,  Porter, 
Stark,  Pulaski,  Cass,  LaPorte,  Marshall,  Kosciusko,  Whitley  and  per- 
haps others;  inasmuch  as  Upper  Silurian  fossils  have  been  found  at  low 
exposure  on  a  northern  tributary  of  the  Tippecanoe  river,  and  on  the 
Kankakee,  as  well  as  in  adjoining  parts  of  Illinois,  and  at  Milwaukie, 
Wisconsin  ;  besides  the  overlying  black  shales  of  Devonian  age  in  the 
Grand  Prairie.  Still,  as  the  Drift  has  to  a  great  extent  formed  the  soils 
of  these  counties,  most  of  them  are  described  under  that  head ;  while 
others,  receiving  their  character  from  the  black  slate  of  Devonian  age, 
are  assigned  to  that  period. 

The  strata  of  Upper  Silurian  formation  which  seem  most  developed 
in  Indiana,  belong  rather  to  the  upper  a*nd  middle  than  to  the  lower 
groups  of  the  same,  especially  to  one  which,  from  its  prevailing  between 
Lakes  Ontario  and  Erie,  around  the  Niagara  Falls,  has  been  designated 
in  the  New  York  Geological  Surveys  as  the  Niagara  group.  Some  of 
the  fossils  found  seem  assignable  to  yet  higher  groups,  the  Ouondaga 
Salt  Group  of  the  New  York  geologists,  and  their  Lower  Helderberg 
Limestones. 

As  in  the  Lower  Silurian  formation,  so  in  this,  Corals  and  Brachiopod 
Mollusks,  with  Trilobites,  constitute  the  prevailing  fauna  in  beds  which 
in  the  Western  Hemisphere  reach  a  thickness  of  about  4,000  feet,  con- 
sisting, in  British  Wales,  of  sandstones,  more  or  less  calcareous  and  ar- 
gillaceous, resting  upon  earthy  limestones,  with  intercalations  of  shales, 
locally  known  as  "Mud  stones." 

The  New  York  geologists  assign  to  this  formation,  in  the  eastern 
portion  of  the  United  States,  a  thickness  of  two  thousand,  four  hun- 
dred feet,  the  upper  members  of  which  are  characterized  by  argillo- 
silicious  limestones,  the  middle  by  shales  and  limestones,  the  lower  by 
shales  and  sandstones.  In  Indiana,  the  thickness  of  this  formation  may 
be  placed  provisionally  at  about  1500  feet,  comprising,  as  already  stated, 


58  GEOLOGICAL    RECONNAISSANCE 

chiefly  the  middle  and  upper  groups.  This  is  confirmed  by  the  borings 
from  Dupont's  Artesian  Well,  through  part  of  the  Devonian  and  all  the 
Upper  Silurian  rocks  at  the  Ohio  Falls.  Prof  J.  Lawrence  Smith  re- 
ports the  fragments  as  being  doubtless  from  Lower  Silurian  rocks,  when 
the  borings  had  reached  a  depth  of  sixteen  hundred  feet  from  the  sur- 
face, while  the  Devonian  rocks  first  passed  through  amounted  to  about 
one  hundred  feet  or  less. 

SUB-SECTION  2. — CHARACTER  OF  THE  SOIL  RESULTING  FROM  THE  DISINTE- 
GRATION OF  UPPER  SILURIAN  BOCKS,  AND  ITS  IMPROVEMENT. — Prof.  J.  F. 
W.  Johnston,  the  distinguished  Agricultural  Chemist  and  Geologist, 
characterizes  the  soils  derived  in  Wales  from  the  shales  and  earthy 
layers  of  the  sandstones  and  limestones,  as  less  productive  than  the  red 
marls  and  clays  of  the  Old  Red  Sandstone  in  Hereford,  while  the  muddy, 
impervious  soils  of  the  lower  Ludlow  and  Wenlock  rocks,  he  says, 
"subjected  to  the  drainage  of  the  upper  beds,  form  cold  and  compara- 
tively unmanageable  tracts.  It  is  only  where  the  intermediate  lime- 
stones come  to  the  surface,  and  mingle  their  debris  with  those  of  the 
upper  and  lower  rocks,  that  the  stiff  clays  become  capable  of  bearing 
excellent  crops  of  wheat.  This  fact,  however,  indicates  the  method  by 
which  the  whole  of  these  cold,  wet  clays  might  be  greatly  improved. 

By  perfect  artificial  drainage  and  perfect  limeing,  the  unproductive 
soils  of  the  Lower  Ludlow  and  of  the  Wenlock  shales  might  be  con- 
verted into  wheat  lands  more  or  less  rich  and  fertile." 

Prof.  Hall  expresses  a  very  favorable  opinion  regarding  the  fertility 
of  some  groups  in  this  formation  on  our  continent.  Speaking  of  the 
Onondaga  Salt  group,  he  remarks :  "  The  soils  derived  from  the  decom- 
position of  the  rocks  of  this  group,  and  of  those  of  the  Niagara  group, 
are  among  the  most  fertile  in  the  United  States." 

The  above  opinion  is  fully  sustained  by  the  fertility  of  some  Indiana 
counties  situated  in  the  Upper  Silurian,  while,  in  portions  of  others, 
where  the  cold  shales  or  the  argillo-silicious  limestones  preponderate 
over  the  purely  calcareous  rocks,  some  remedy  may  in  time  be  neces- 
sary, similar  to  those  pointed  out  above  by  Prof.  Johnston,  as  the  best 
means  of  rendering  the  land  highly  productive.  A  sufficient  number 
of  the  soils  from  this  formation,  in  Indiana,  has  not  yet  been  subjected 
to  analysis  to  furnish  a  safe  criterion  for  deductions  of  practical  value. 
Those  four  results  given  in  Dr.  Peters'  report,  as  well  as  the  table  of 
some  Upper  Silurian  soils  analyzed  by  him  for  Kentucky,  exhibit  many 
of  the  inorganic  ingredients  necessary  for  fertility,  in  fair  average  pro- 
portions. Where  such  is  the  case,  the  same  crops  would  be  suitable  as 


OF  INDIANA.  59 


were   indicated   for   the   Lower   Silurian    formation,  the    cereals   and 
grasses. 

On  this  subject,  Mr.  Fisher,  member  of  the  State  Board  of  Agricul- 
ture from  Wabash  county,  who  embraces  in  his  District  several  other 
counties  of  Upper  Silurian  soil,  remarks :  "Our  staple  products  are 
corn  and  wheat ;  our  lands  produce  timothy,  clover,  blue  grass,  pota- 
toes, &c.  The  reason  why  corn  and  wheat  are  our  staple  articles,  is 
because  we  have  not  a  market  always  reliable  for  other  farm  products ; 
much  of  our  corn  is  fed  to  hogs,  and  finds  a  market  in  the  shape  of 
pork  and  some  in  beef.  It  is  not  because  our  soil  will  not  produce 
other  things  equally  well ;  but  we  always  have  a  cash  market  for  wheat 
and  corn.  We  have  nearly  every  variety  of  soil  except  the  high  roll- 
ing prairie.  *  The  soil  in  the  northern  portion  of  Wabash, 
in  what  is  called  u  barrens,"  quite  lightly  timbered  and  covered  with 
hazel  bushes,  is  of  a  sandy  character,  and  produces  good  wheat  and 
good  corn,  if  the  season  is  not  too  dry.  In  much  the  largest  portion 
of  the  District,  the  land  was  covered  with  a  heavy  growth  of  timber, 
having  a  strong  clay  soil,  which,  when  underdrained,  will  produce 
abundantly." 

SUE-SECTION  3. — QUARRIES  OF  MATERIALS  SUITABLE  FOR  BUILDINGS, 
ROADS,  GRINDSTONES,  WHETSTONES,  AND  FOR  BURNING  QUICK  LIME  OR  HY- 
DRAULIC LIME,  ALSO  DEPOSITS  OF  MARL,  GYPSUM,  CLAYS  FOR  POTTERY, 
FIREBRICK,  &c. — Good  quarries  adapted  to  the  purposes  of  building  are 
very  abundant  in  this  formation.  Beginning  with  the  more  northern, 
we  have  extensive  quarries  described  more  in  detail  under  their  sepa- 
rate counties,  in  the  neighborhood  of  Huntington,  Huntington  county, 
several  in  Wabash,  especially  that  of  Mr.  Fisher,  member  of  the  State 
Board  above  alluded  to,  convenient  to  the  railroad  and  canal ;  also,  one 
atLaGro;  again  near  Peru,  along  the  Mississinewa  for  some  distance 
to  Miami  county,  rock  is  abundant;  although  at  places  it  does  not 
quarry  in  large  slabs,  having  a  tendency  to  cross  fracture,  and  near  Lo- 
gansport,  Carroll  county,  many  good  quarries  extend  along  the  Wa- 
bash. 

Somewhat  further  south  we  have  stone  quarries  at  Bluffton,  Buena 
Vista  and  other  places  on  the  banks  of  the  Wabash,  in  Adams  and 
Wells  counties;  also  not  far  from  Marion,  Grant  county;  at  Macksville, 
in  Randolph;  at  Yorktown,  Delaware  county,  besides  extensive  beds  at 
the  junction  of  the  Upper  Silurian  and  Devonian  strata  of  Pendleton, 
Madison  county,  also  some  quarries  at  Strawtown  and  other  points  in 
Hamilton.  Still  further  south,  the  Upper  Silurian  affords  good  build- 


60  GEOLOGICAL  RECONNOISSANCE 

ing  materials  on  Flat  Rock,  in  Shelby  county;  at  the  St.  Paul  and  Jor- 
dan quarries,  in  Decatur;  also  the  well-known  and  extensively  shipped 
Vernon  rock  of  Jennings  county,  and  the  beautiful  materials  from  the 
Dean  Marble  quarry  of  Jefferson,  which,  although  in  upper  layers  of 
Lower  Silurian  strata,  fall  under  this  section  because  the  soil  of  the 
county,  as  remarked  previously,  is  derivable  chiefly  from  Upper  Silu- 
rian detritus.  Ripley  county,  we  believe,  has  abundance  of  rock,  but 
we  were  unable  to  visit  the  localities  at  which  we  understood  it  was 
obtained,  and  therefore  cannot  speak  definitely  regarding  it.  Lime- 
stones in  thin  layers,  suitable  for  turnpiking,  is  also  found  in  Henry 
county. 

From  the  above  it  will  be  evident  that  in  "this  formation  there  is  no 
deficiency  of  limestone  suitable  for  the  manufacture  of  lime,  although 
some  layers  have  occasionally  been  rejected  as  too  silicious  to  be  per- 
fectly burned.  Hydraulic  limestones  of  excellent  quality  are  abundant 
in  this  formation,  particularly  in  Wabash  county,  and  near  the  eastern 
line  of  Rush  adjoining  Fayette  county. 

E"o  marls,  nor  grits  for  grindstones  or  whetstones,  were  especially 
brought  to  our  notice  in  the  Upper  Silurian  strata,  but  we  were  inform- 
ed that  there  was  no  scarcity  of  clays  suitable  for  pottery,  &c. ;  and 
near  Madison,  in  Jefferson  county,  a  fine  clay  is  extensively  dug  for  the 
use  of  foundries. 

SUB- SECTION  4. — THE  METALS  IN  THE  UPPER  SILURIAN  FORMATION. — 
Considerable  quantities  of  Bog  Iron  ore  (designated  by  Prof.  Dana  as 
hydrous  peroxide  of  iron)  are  found  in  the  more  northern  counties  of 
this  formation,  as  Wabash,  Delaware,  Miami,  Henry,  and  probably  oth- 
ers. Gold  has  been  washed  on  Blue  River,  Henry  county;  but  no 
workable  quantities  of  other  metals  have  yet  been  examined  by  the 
corps,  though  a  considerable  amount  of  zinc  blende  found  may  lead  to 
the  discovery  of  large  quantities. 

Many  of  the  general  observations  made  regarding  metals,  &c.,  in  the 
Lower  Silurian  formation  would  apply  here  also,  as  both  belong  to  the 
same  System,  and  have,  consequently,  some  characters  in  common. 

SUB-SECTION  5. — THE  GROWTH  or  TIMBER,  AND  OTHER  LEADING  VEGETA- 
TION.— On  this  head,  Mr.  Fisher,  whose  District  embraces  several  of  the 
counties  in  this  formation,  and  whose  remarks  on  the  soils  we  quoted 
above,  makes  the  following  observations:  "The  timber  is  as  various 
as  the  soil,  and  is,  as  in  all  other  places,  a  complete  index  to  its  quality. 
I  think  much  the  largest  portion  of  my  District  is  what  would  be  call- 
ed, in  common  parlance,  *  Beech  and  Sugar-tree  land,'  that  is,  these 


OF    INDIANA.  Gl 


two  kinds  of  timber  abound  more  than  any  others,  yet  you  will  find 
few  quarter  sections  entirely  destitute  of  Black  Walnut,  Bur  Oak,* 
Ash,  Hickory,  &c."  In  Henry  county  we  noticed  also  White  Walnut, 
Poplar  and  Wild  Cherry. 

Although  perhaps  not  peculiar  to  these  geological  strata,  it  may  be 
mentioned  that  the  Boneset  (Eupatorium  perfoliatum)  and  the  Stick- 
seed  (Ecldnospermum  lappula)  were  abundant  in  several  of  the  counties 
of  this  formation. 

SUB-SECTION  6. — MINERAL  AND  OTHER  SPRINGS,  ARTESIAN  WELLS,  &c. 
The  well  and  other  water  in  this  formation  is,  as  might  be  anticipated, 
chiefly  hard  limestone  water;  the  supply  in  most  places  is  abundant. 

A  few  suphurous  and  saline  springs  exist,  and  chalybeates  are  nu- 
merous, especially  in  the  northern  and  middle  counties  of  the  forma- 
tion, as  Delaware  and  Rush. 

Centrally  through  the  latter  county,  in  a  line  north  of  east  and  south 
of  west,  embracing  Rushville,  the  county  seat,  at  most  places  where 
wells  have  been  dug  or  borings  made,  the  water  rises  to  the  surface  and 
by  inserting  pipes  may  be  carried  even  higher;  it  is  almost  invariably 
chalybeate  in  character. 

SUB-SECTION  7. — MISCELLANEOUS  FACTS  REGARDING  DISEASES,  &c. — On 
this  subject  I  quote  again  from  Mr.  Fisher:  "The  prevailing  diseases 
are  intermitting  fever,  or  fever  and  ague,  bilious  fever,  &c.,  in  winter 
there  is  occasionally  a  case  of  pneumonia,  and  various  other  diseases 
throughout  the  year,  but  not  of  sufficiently  frequent  occurrence  to  mark 
them  as  diseases  generally  prevailing  in  the  country.  In  former  years 
our  country  had  some  reputation  as  a  good  ague  country,  but  it  is  fast 
losing  it;  for  the  last  three  or  four  years  there  have  been  but  few  cases, 
and  those  of  the  mildest  form.  Bilious  diseases  are  supposed,  I  believe, 
to  be  superinduced  by  the  malaria  arising  from  stagnant  pools  of  water 
and  decayed  or  decaying  vegetable  matter,  and  as  the  county  improves, 
these  causes  are  removed  and  the  disease  ceases  to  exists."  *  * 
"There  has  been  in  years  past  some  little  ' potato  rot,'  but  not  to  an 
alarming  extent,  nor  has  it  been  general.  Some  complaint  has  been 
been  made  of  injury  to  wheat  in  the  fall  by  what  is  called  the  'fly/  but 
this  is  not  very  extensive.  The  injury  is  done  by  destroying  the  young 
plants;  some  persons  say  they  are  eaten  by  the  'fly,'  others  by  'black 
crickets.'  I  incline  to  the  latter  conclusion." 

*This  is  the  overcup  White  Oak  of  Michaux,  (Quercus  macrocarpa,)  the  chene  a  gros  gland 
of  the  early  French  settlers  in  Illinois.  Prof.  Gray  considers  the  Mossy  cup  White  Oak 
(  Quercus  olivceformis,)  only  a  variety  of  the  above. 


62  GEOLOGICAL   RECONNOISSANCE 

"  Plums  (except  wild  plums)  are  almost  invariably  destroyed  by  the 
curculio;  other  fruits  are  not  much  injured  by  insects." 

"I  have  never  heard  of  a  case  of  milk- sickness  or  hog  cholera  in  my 
District." 

SUB- SECTION  8. — SPECIFIC  ENUMERATION  OF  THE  FOSSILS  MOST  COMMON  IN 
THE  UPPER  SILURIAN  COUNTIES  OF  INDIANA. — The  fossils  of  the  Upper 
Silurian  are  still,  as  in  the  Lower,  chiefly  corals,  mollusks  and  trilobites ; 
but  frequently  specifically  distinct  from  those  found  in  the  lower  part 
of  the  Silurian  System.  In  our  State  they,  to  a  great  extent,  belong  to 
the  Niagara  Group  of  New  York  Geologists,  and  part  of  the  Wenlock 
and  Dudley  of  Europeans ;  the  most  common  are  these  : 

A.  RADIATES. — 

a!  Amorphozoa:     Stromatopora  eonstellata,  (Hall,) 

S.  concentrica,  (Hall,) 
a.  Corals :    Heliolites  pyriformis, 

H.  macrostylus, 

Plasmopora  follis  ?  (Edwards  and  Haime,) 

F avosites  Niagarensis, 

F.  favosa, 

F.  Hisingeri,  (Edwards  and  Haime,) 

Astrocerium  parasiticum ; 

Halysites  catenularia,    (Catenipora    escharoides   or 
chain  coral  of  Hall,) 

Halysites  sexto-catenatus, 

Syringopora  (?)  multicaulis,  (Hall,) 

Columnaria  insequalis, 

Csenites  (Limaria)  laminata,  (Hall,) 

Zaphrentis  turbinatum, 

Streptalasma  calicula  and  strombodes  pentagonus. 
6.  Acalephs. 

c.  Echinoderms:  sub-division  Crinoids, 

Cariocrinus  ornatus, 

Stems  of  Eucalyptocrinus  decorus, 

Eugeniacrinus  costatus. 

B.  MOLLUSKS. — 

d.  Molluscoid  Bryozoa.    Fenestella  tenuis, 

Clathropora  frondosa, 


OF   INDIANA.  63 


e.  Brachiopods.     Atrypa  reticularis, 

A. ,  n.  sp.,  [Terebratula  Wilsoni,] 

Peteramerus  occidentalis, 

P.  oblongus, 

P.  Huntingdonensis, 

Orthis  elegantula,  Leptsena  depressa. 

/.   Conchifers. 

cj.  Pteropods. 

h.  Gasteropods.    Platyostoma  Niagarensis,  Hall,) 

Bucania  euomphaloides,  (R.  Owen,) 

i.   Cephalopods.     Orthoceras  undulatum,  (Hall,) 
0.  imbricatum,  (Hall,) 
Gyroceras  rhombolinearis,  (R.  Owen,) 
Nautilus  Wabashensis,  (R.  Owen,) 

C.  AllTITULATES. — 

k.   Worms. 

1.  Crustaceans:  sub-division  Trilobites. 

Calymene  blumenbachii,  var.  senaria, 
C.  blumenbachii,  var.  Niagarensis,  (Hall,) 
Bumastus  Barriensis. 

m.  Insects. 

D.  VERTEBRATES. — 

n.  Fishes. 
o.  Reptiles, 
p.  Birds, 
q.  Mammals. 

SUB-SECTION  9. — DETAILED  DESCRIPTION  OP  EACH  COUNTY  IN  THE  UPPER 
SILURIAN  FORMATION. — 

ADAMS  AND  WELLS  COUNTIES. 

As  there  is  considerable  similarity  in  the  character  of  these  two  coun- 
ties, it  has  been  thought  best  to  give  the  description  of  both  under  one 
head,  especially  as  some  of  the  most  important  palseontogical  investi- 
gations were  made  on  the  Wabash,  very  near  the  junction  of  the  two 
counties. 

The  Drift  which  spreads  so  extensively  over  counties  north  of  these 
two,  has  reached  them  also,  and  has  considerably  modified  the  soil,  not 
so  much  by  the  disintegration  of  bowlders,  which  are  comparatively 


64  GEOLOGICAL  RECONNOISSANCE 

rare  here,  as  by  the  beds  of  gravel  and  quaternary  clay  overlying  the 
silico-calcareous  Upper  Silurian  rocks  that  pervade  these  counties.  In 
most  cases  the  resulting  soil,  although  fertile,  inclines  occasionally  to  be 
tenacious,  and  the  surface  of  the  country  being  rather  level  than  hilly, 
the  character  of  the  land  may  be  designated  as  frequently  too  retentive 
of  moisture,  except  in  very  dry  seasons;  requiring  thorough  drainage  to 
develop  its  best  qualities. 

We  saw,  especially  in  the  northern  portion,  where  gravel  rather  pre- 
dominates, some  fine  farms,  with  good  barns  and  fair  crops,  the  coun- 
ties being  traversed  in  part  by  plank  roads,  and  to  some  extent  settled 
by  a  thriving  German  population,  with  railroad  transportation  at  no 
great  distance.-  Clover  seems  to  thrive  very  kindly  in  this  region,  and 
Sorghum  is  cultivated  to  some  extent.  Corn  and  wheat  are  staple 
farming  products,  and  at  Decatur  we  observed  some  excellent  grist  and 
saw  mills.  Cattle,  horses  and  hogs  are  raised  extensively;  and  mead- 
ows, both  for  hay  and  pasture,  evidently  furnish  heavy  crops. 

In  portions  ot  these  two  counties  rock  for  building  materials  is 
abundant;  it  is  also  well  adapted  for  the  construction  of  turnpikes; 
and,  although  in  places  silicious,  the  majority  of  it  burns  into  a  good 
lime. 

At  Buena  Vista,  (near  Newville,  in  Wells  county,)  where  they  are 
building  a  bridge  over  the  Wabash,  (and  otherwise  exhibit  enterprise 
and  energy  in  the  erection  of  mills,  &c.,)  they  have  quarried  rock  some- 
what extensively  for  building  purposes,  and,  although  some  layers  have 
a  disposition  to  cross  fracture,  and  calc  spar  fills  occasionally  large  cavi- 
ties, yet  by  selection,  particularly  from  the  lower  layers,  a  tolerably  fair 
material  can  be  obtained  here,  as  well  as,  at  intervals,  some  distance  up 
the  Wabash  to  the  Ohio  line ;  also  down  the  river  from  this  point,  com- 
mencing two  miles  above  Bluff'ton  and  continuing  for  twenty  miles  below, 
then  disappearing,  until  three  miles  from  Huntington  it  again  shows 
itself.  The  rock  is  highly  bituminious  in  places,  emitting  a  strong 
odor,  when  freshly  broken.  The  dip  here  was  found  to  be,  as  usually 
noticed  also  by  us,  scuth-west. 

The  forest  trees  chiefly  observed  in  passing  through  Adams  county 
were  Beech,  Maple,  Hickory,  Ash,  Elm,  Black  Walnut,  White  Oak 
and  Dogwood,  while  in  Wells  county  the  timber,  of  large  size,  com- 
prised Hickory,  Poplar,  (or  Tulip  tree,)  Maple,  Sycamore,  and  some 
Beech.  A  considerable  amount  of  smart  weed,  rag  weed,  stick  weed, 
(Echinospermum  lappula,)  and  boneset,  (Eupatorium  perfoliatum,)  in- 
dicate their  growth  by  a  cool,  moist  soil,  very  fine  ferns,  including  some 


OF   INDIANA.  (35 


species  not  before  seen  by  us,  also  extend  in  "Wells  county  over  consid- 
erable tracts  of  land,  besides  other  rather  unusual  vegetation. 

Milk-sickness  is  said  to  prevail  to  some  extent  in  portions  of  Adams 
county;  but  my  informant,  Mr.  Robert  Zimmerson,  says  it  was  never 
so  troublesome  here  as  in  Miami  county,  Ohio,  where  he  formerly  re- 
sided. In  that  county  he  knew  of  a  lick,  in  a  sugar  camp,  to  which 
the  cattle  resorted  for  the  saline  matter  and  near  which  they  died.  On 
fencing  up  the  lick,  the  cattle  were  not  affected  with  milk-sickness  for 
several  miles  around.  Having  worked  in  lead  mines  on  Fever  Eiver, 
he  bore  me-out  in  a  view,  formerly  expressed  by  me,  that  the  disease  in 
many  of  its  symptoms  resembles  poisoning  from  lead.  - 

Still  we  must  admit  that  the  disease  often  occurs  where  we  see  no 
surface  indications  of  that  metal;  indeed,  so  far  as  I  could  learn  no 
metal  of  consequence  has  been  found  in  these  counties ;  the  nearest  be- 
ing the  zinc-blende  of  Huntington  county.  The  general  nature  of  the 
soil  in  parts  of  Adams  and  Wells,  partakes  of  the  characters  often 
mentioned  by  my  late  brother  as  favorable,  by  a  tenacious  substratum, 
sometimes  of  aluminous  shales,  for  the  retention  of  water  charged  with 
salts  and  their  subsequent  efflorenscence  in  the  form  of  licks;  near  such 
regions  he  generally  found  "thaj  milk- sickness  had  prevailed  at  some 
period. 

Typhoid  fever  is  of  somewhat  frequent  occurrence  in  this  part  of  our 
State;  indeed  it  is  becoming  in  most  parts  of  the  United  States  more 
prevalent  than  formerly,  while  higher  grades  of  fever  are  diminishing. 

Springs  are  not  very  abundant  in  these  counties;  but,  on  the  north 
side  of  the  "Wabash  from  Buena  Vista,  water  is  readily  reached  in  dig- 
ging wells  without  encountering  rock;  on  the  south  side  they  obtain 
good  water  at  from  sixteen  to  twenty  feet  below  the  surface,  among 
sand  and  gravel  overlying  the  Upper  Silurian  rocks:  a  mile  and  a  half 
further  south-west,  and  also  north-west,  on  Three-Mile  Creek,  a  bed  of 
rock  is  encountered  at  from  two  to  four  feet,  consequently  no  water  can 
be  obtained  without  blasting  and  penetrating  these  beds. 

Fossils  are  not  abundant  in  the  rocks  of  these  counties  at  the  locali- 
ties examined ;  but  the  chain  coral,  Halysites  catenularia,  as  well  as 
the  Heliolites  pyriformis  (Hall)  assign  these  strata  to  the  Niagara  Group 
of  Upper  Silurian  age. 


66 


GEOLOGICAL    RECONNOISSANCE 


HOTTTINGTON  COTOTTY. 

The  soil  of  this  county  is  generally  deep  and  fertile,  argillaceous  in 
places,  in  others  more  arenaceous,  the  result  partly  of  decomposing 
Upper  Silurian  rocks,  partly  of  the  Drift,  which  covers  a  considerable 
area  to  some  depth ;  the  Drift  hills  around  the  town  of  Huntington 
consist,  in  places,  of  forty-five  feet  of  sand  and  gravel  deposited  on  the 
Upper  Silurian  rocks  which,  with  some  alluvium,  form  the  Wabash 
and  Little  river  bottoms. 

Wheat  and  corn  grow  well  in  this  county,  and  are  cultivated  exten- 
sively; the  latter  is  partly  fed  to  cattle  and  hogs,  which  also  form  sta- 
ple articles  of  exportation.  Rock  is  quarried  abundantly  near  the  town 
of  Huntington.  Near  one  of  the  quarries  the  following  section  exhi- 
bited itself : 


At 

j 

i~j 

0 

pd  -^     C* 

r~<  O    & 

^2 

ill 

• 
'So 

Cliaracter  of  Rock. 

O    C/J  "^ 

II 

"•£   «    0 

•si  - 

""fl   el 

>0  fl 

O  * 

02  "43  G 

*^2 

Feet. 

Feet. 

Feet. 

100 

1 

570 

.   ._ 

(a) 

• 

g 

Soil  —  gravel  and  sand. 

45 

-s 

<smm^ 

O" 

Arenaceous  limestone, 

50 

c 

20 

Devonia 

resting  uncomfortably;  rate 
of  dip  25  °  to  40  °  south  of 
south-east. 

Silicious  limestone,  with 

K 

(c) 

0)    CS 

S'g 

chain,  coral,  &c.;  rate  of  dip 
1°    to  3°  a  little  east  of 

Jill 

20 

south:  band  of  cheet;  black- 

. .  .  .     .                                .  _JI 

ish  shale. 

SEC.  2,  AT  HlTNTINGTOX,  HUNTIXGTON  Co.                               ,          ]     f  I  'ttl     Ri  ' 

i  af   TTimtin<rton 

485 
482* 

3r>  I  two  miles°below,  at  its  mouth  ... 

authority  of  Messrs.  Stansbury  and  Williams.. 


OF   INDIANA.  67 


These  quarries  afford  abundant  and  fair  materials  for  the  construc- 
tion of  buildings  and  roads,  also  for  the  manufacture  of  lime.  Con- 
siderable quantities  of  zinc-blede  (the  black-jack  of  miners)  are  obtain- 
ed about  two  miles  from  the  town  of  Huntington  on  the  north  side  of 
the  Wabash,  near  the  feeder  dam;  the  locality  merits  close  examina- 
tion, which  in  our  rapid  visit  in  1859  we  were  unable  to  give  it,  expect- 
ing to  return  to  that  county.  No  other  metals  were  heard  of  as  having 
been  found  in  this  county. 

The  country  is  well  timbered,  Beech  and  Sugar -tree  being  prevalent 
in  parts  of  the  county  passed  through  by  us. 

Under  the  very  efficient  direction  of  Mr.  Luzon  Warner,  politely 
recommended  to  me  by  the  Eev.  Mr.  Skinner,  of  Wabash,  as  having  a 
fine  collection  of  fossils,  we  were  conducted  to  the  quarries  near  the 
Huntington  fair  grounds,  and  enabled  to  obtain  the  following  fossils, 
chiefly  belonging  to  the  Niagara  Group  :  Haly sites  catenularia,  Helio- 
lites  pyriformis,  (Hall)  and  H.  macrostylus,  (Hall)  Favosites  Niagaren- 
sis,  Favosites  Hisingeri,  (Edwards  and  Haime)  Stromatopora  concentri- 
ca,  Stromatopora  constellata,  (Hall)  Syringopora  multicaulis,  (Hall) 
Strombodes  pentagonus,  Streptelasma  calicula,  (Hall)  Zaphrentis  turbin- 
atum;  Caenites  (Limaria)  laminata  (Hall);  Stems 'of  Eucalyptocrinus 
decorus ;  Atrypa  reticularis,  Pentarnerus  occidentalis ;  Platyostoma  Ni- 

agareusis ;  Bucania ?  (Hall,)  Nautiloceras  (of  D'Orb.  or  Gyroce- 

ras  of  DeKoninck)  species  undetermined  ;  Calymene  Blumenbachii,  var 
senaria;  Caly.  Blum.  var.  Niagarensis,  (Hall)  Bumastis  Barriensis. 

By  drilling  through  20  feet  of  rock  in  the  lower  part  of  town  they 
obtain  water ;  in  the  hills,  by  sinking  wells  from  40  to  GO  feet  deep, 
good  water  is  reached. 

WABASH  COUNTY. 

Under  the  polite  guidance  of  Mr.  Fisher,  of  your  State  Board,  we 
had  a  fine  opportunity  of  examining  parts  of  this  county.  Not  far 
from  this  gentleman's  beautiful  farm  and  quarry  there  is  a  railroad  cut, 
rendered  somewhat  noted  as  being  close  to  the  scene  of  a  whloesale  mur- 
der committed  a  few  years  since  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hubbard.  They  kill- 
ed with  a  shoe  hammer,  as  proved  on  trial,  and  buried  under  the  floor 
of  the  cabin,  the  family  with  whom  they  boarded,  consisting  of  a  man, 
his  wife,  and,  I  think,  five  children,  circulating  the  story  that  the  fami- 
ly had  sold  out  to  them  and  moved  away.  The  subsequent  murder  of 
an  Irish  canal  laborer  led  to  their  detection  and  conviction. 


68  GEOLOGICAL    RECONNOISSANCE 

The  evidence  of  natural  convulsions  exhibited  in  the  adjoining  rail- 
road cut  by  disturbed  and  dislocated  strata,  were  almost  as  inexplicable 
as  these  outbursts  of  a  perverted  human  nature.  Entering  at  the  west 
end  we  find  beds  inclined  to  the  west  of  an  angle  of  about  45°;  ap- 
proaching the  centre  an  anticlinal  axis  partakes  rather  of  the  character 
of  curved  or  folded  strata,  with  huge  masses  of  the  purest  crystalline 
calcite,  partially  covered  by  a  crust  of  tufa.  This  is  doubtless  derived 
by  infiltration  from  the  calcareous  matter  of  the  superincumbent  Drift, 
as  somewhat  farther  east  we  encounter  gravel,  sometimes  consolidated 
by  this  cement  into  a  hard  conglomerate,  resting  now  on  beds  that  oc- 
cupy the  railroad  level,  although  at  the  centre  of  the  cut  these  strata 
were  nearly  thirty  feet  over  our  heads.  Beneath  this  bed  we  discern 
chert,  sometimes  pure  and  detached,  sometimes  apparently  the  result  of 
silicious  filtration  into  the  cavities  of  the  limestone.  Emerging  from 
this  remarkable  section  at  the  eastern  end,  we  find  shales  with  an  east- 
erly dip  at  the  rate  of  about  25°. 

Drs.  Ford  and  Winton  of  the  town  of  Wabash  were  kind  enough  to 
drive  us  out  to  Linn's  Mill,  on  Treaty  Creek.  Here  we  again  found 
evidence  of  the  convulsions  and  uncomformable  stratification  noticed  at 
the  Fair  Ground  quarries  of  Huntiugton,  and  at  the  railroad  cut  de- 
scribed above.  On  the  west  side  of  the  creek,  opposite  to  the  mill  and 
close  to  the  dam,  a  hill  is  formed  by  an  anticlinal  axis,  the  beds  dipping 
northward  and  southward  about  43°.  But  the  extreme  summit  of  the 
hill  has  evidently  been  subsequently  denuded  and  abraded  by  water, 
until  a  hollow  affords  a  channel  for  a  rippling  rivulet,  while  in  the  bed 
of  the  main  stream,  beneath  the  axis,  the  undisturbed  strata  are  visible. 
Of  this  interesting  locality  I  made  an  outline  sketch,  from  which  the 
engraver  executed  the  subjoined  lignograph. 


OF  INDIANA.  71 


As  the  quarries  at  LaGro  are  stated  to  be  very  fine,  we  regretted  not 
having  an  opportunity  to  visit  them.  From  Mr.  Fisher's  quarry  large 
quantities  of  excellent  building  rock  are  shipped  by  canal  and  on  the 
Fort  Wayne  Railroad.  The  layers  usually  furnish  very  large  and  thick 
slabs,  one  bed  has  hydraulic  properties  and  formerly  was  burnt  in  that 
neighborhood  for  cement. 

Near  the  town  of  Wabash.  the  bluffs  ascending  from  the  Wabash 
River,  which  is  here  638  feet  above  high  tide,  furnished  the  subjoined 
section : 

FEET. 

Loose  and  thin  limestones 15  to  20 

Chert  and  flag  stones 8  to  10 

Aluminous  shales 15 

Silico-calcareous  rock 15  to  20 

Good  building  rock 20  to  25 

Hydraulic  limestone 5  to    8 

Good  building  rock,   thickness  (beneath  general  surface  of 

ground) unknown 

SEC.  3,  NEAR  WABASH,  WABASH  COUNTY. 

From  some  of  the  various  localities  in  Wabash  county  above  enu- 
merated we  obtained  Halysites  catenularia,  Astroceri-um  parasiticum, 
Orthoceras  imbricatum  and  fragments  of  other  large  Orthoceratites,  an 
undetermined  species  of  Nautilus  and  Calymene  Niagarensis. 

Bog  iron  ore  occurs  in  the  northern  part  of  the  county;  no  other 
metals  have  as  yet  been  seen  or  reported  as  found;  nor  gritstones  suit- 
able for  grindstones  or  whetstones. 

The  soil  is  various,  producing  usually  good  crops  of  corn,  wheat, 
timothy,  clover,  bluegrass  and  potatoes. 

The  northern  portion  of  the  county  is  more  sandy  and  the  timber 
lighter,  than  in  the  south,  where  clay  predominates,*  with  large  Beech 
trees  and  Sugar-Maple  abounding,  besides  some  Black  Walnut,  Bur 
Oak,  Ash  and  Hickory. 

*Nos.  8  and  9  of  Dr.  Peter's  reports  furnish  the  analysis  of  a  soil  from  Mr.  Wm.  T.  Ross' 
farm  near  the  centre  of  this  county.  The  remarkably  red  soil,  of  Mr.  D.  Ross'  farm,  highly 
impregnated  with  iron,  has  not  yet  been  analyzed.  The  .locality  is  one-fourth  of  a  mile 
southwest  of  Somerset,  near  the  corner  of  three  counties — Wabash,  Miami,  and  Grant. 


72  GEOLOGICAL   RECONNOISSANCE 


MIAMI  COUNTY. 

The  weatherings  of  silico-calcareous  rock  (or  Magnesian  limestone 
as  it  may  also  be  termed,)  have  mingled  with  the  Drift  which  has  reach- 
ed this  latitude  to  form  the  soils  of  the  county.  They  are  also  often 
charged  with  iron  which  has  filtered,  while  held  in  solution  by  water, 
into  many  of  the  rock  cavities,  and  been  deposited  there  until  again 
mingled  with  the  soil,  after  decomposition  of  the  stony  matrix  or  min- 
eral nidus,  if  the  term  be  admissible.  This  union  has  given  rise  to  a 
soil  of  varied  character,  but  usually  of  sufficient  fertility  to  produce 
good  crops  of  the  staple  agricultural  grain,  maize  or  Indian  corn.  Al- 
though most  of  the  farms  came  into  market  only  sixteen  or  eighteen 
years  since,  (the  land  forming  this  county  having  been  reserved  for  the 
Miami  tribe  of  Indians)  yet  they  already  exhibit  proof  of  good  culture 
and  enterprise.  Forty  dollars  per  acre  is  by  no  means  an  uncommon 
price  for  the  land,  and  when  we  camped  near  the  farm  of  Mr.  William 
Godfrey,  (16th  and  17th  of  June,  I860,)  we  found  corn  selling  at  35  cts. 
and  wheat  at  $1.25  per  bushel. 

Close  to  this  farm,  on  the  banks  of  the  picturesque  Mississinewa, 
about  three  miles  from  Peru,  are  the  celebrated  "pillars,"  resulting  from 
the  unequal  disintegration  produced  by  the  waters  of  this  river  on  the 
harder  and  softer  portions  of  the  silico-calcareous  rock,  chiefly  forming 
its  banks. 

In  describing  this  locality  among  other  scenery  of  Indiana,  as  some 
of  the  readers  of  the  "  Indiana  Farmer  "  may  remember,  I  used  lan- 
guage, the  coloring  of  which,  I  think,  does  not  over  paint  the  scene  : 
"  Again  on  the  Mississinewa,  a  tributary  of  the  Wabash,  we  find,  close 
to  the  residence  of  Godfrey,  a  son  of  the  Miami  chief,  whose  tribe  left 
these  fine  lands  only  eighteen  years  since,  bluffs  in  which  the  rocks 
have  been  weather  and  water  washed  into  fantastic  pillars  and  natural 
cornices,  which  might  serve  to  inspire  the  genius  of  a  Michael  Angelo 
with  some  new  architectural  design,  to  rival  his  St.  Peter's  at  .Rome." 

These  bluffs,  or  pillars,  are  here  about  25  feet  high,  while  nearer  the 
ford  they  rise  to  40  and  50  feet  above  low  water. 

The  bed  of  this  interesting  stream  was,  during  our  visit  at  this 
locality,  full  of  confervse,  (simple  jointed  water  weeds)  and  had  more 
crawfish  dashing,  with  their  peculiar,  quick  backward  movement,  from 
under  the  rocks  into  the  sunshine,  than  I  ever  before  saw  in  one  stream. 
Various  species  of  unio,  cyclas,  paludina  (chiefly  dead)  and  melania, 


OF   INDIANA.  73 


were  also  common  ;  the  latter  leaving  a  track  in  the  sand  resembling 
that  of  a  worm.  Besides  these,  numerous  specimens  of  the  larva  of 
the  Phryganea,  or  water  moth,  were  seen  dragging  their  wooden  habi- 
tation of  cemented  sticks  along  the  bottom  of  the  shallow  fresh  water 
coves  formed  by  the  river*. 

In  this  camp  we  noted,  besides  the  usual  timber,  abundance  of  the 
Ohio  Buckeye  or  American  Horse  Chestnut,  (Pavia  Ohioensis,)  the 
buds  of  which,  eaten  in  early  spring  by  the  cattle,  frequently  produce 
in  them  symptoms  resembling  an  attack  of  "  trembles  or  tires,"  in  man 
called  milk-sickness. 

Mr.  Godfrey  showed  me  where  he  had  partially  opened  a  quarry  of 
fine  grained  sandstone,  very  similar  to  that  in  the  bluff  below  Logans- 
port;  and,  (as  was  the  case  there.)  here  also  overlying  the  yellowish 
silico-calcareous  rock  of  the  Upper  Silurian  age.  Further  excavations 
are  required  to  prove  its  extent;  but  there  seems  every  prospect  that 
from  this  bed  and  the  underlying  limestone  abundance  of  material  can 
be  obtained  for  the  various  purposes  of  construction. 

A  short  distance  above  Peoria,  where  there  is  a  dam  across  the  Mis- 
sissenewa,  affording  good  water  power,  they  are  likewise  quarrying 
rock  of  fair  quality  and  thickness.  It  seems  usually  not  to  extend 
more  than  eight  or  ten  feet  above  low  water  level  in  the  river,  the  su- 
perincumbent deposit,  consisting  of  quaternary  bowlders,  gravel,  and 
red  clay,  and  amounting  sometimes  to  seventy-five  or  one  hundred  feet 
in  thickness.  Near  Somerset,-)-  where  this  county  adjoins  Wabash  and 
Grant,  on  descending  some  twenty-five  or  thirty  feet,  we  found  them 
quarrying  the  lower  limestone  beds,  which  were  even  more  solid  than 
the  upper,  and  from  which  materials  a  fine  woolen  factory  has  been 
erected ;  a  kiln  close  by  exhibited  a  good  quality  of  lime,  burnt  from 
the  same  strata.  About  Peru  the  limestone  seems  to  have  been  abraded 
and  denuded  to  some  extent  by  the  Wabash,  and  replaced  by  later  qua- 
ternary deposits.  In  digging  their  wells  they  generally  pass  through 
about  twelve  feet  of  gravel  and  then  through  a  few  feet  of  tough  blue 
clay  before  finding  water. 

*It  was  here  also  that  we  captured  a  bull-frog  for  camp  provision  and  found,  on  dissection 
of  its  intestinal  canal,  that  it  contained  a  pebble  weighing  at  least  an  ounce. 

tThis  town  in  Wabash  county  must  be  distinguished  from  Somerset  in  Franklin  county 
mentioned  above ;  indeed  we  have  frequently,  in  order  to  avoid  error,  to  be  careful,  inasmuch 
as  there  are  unfortunately  in  Indiana  two  "Salt  Creeks,"  two  "Eel"  rivers,  two  "St.  Jo- 
seph" rivers,  two  "  Bloomfields,"  more  than  one  town  of  "Liberty,"  and  numerous  "Buena 
Vistas,"  &c.,  &c. 


74  GEOLOGICAL  RECONNOISSANCE 

Half  a  mile  east  of  town,  in  digging  a  ditch,  considerable  quantities 
of  bog  iron  ore  were  thrown  out,  of  which  the  following  analysis  exhi- 
bits the  chief  constituents : 

One-tenth  of  a  gramme  operated  upon,  became  very  red  when 

heated  to  300°  F..  and  lost  by  thus  drying 0.006 

It  contained  of  insoluble  inlicates 0.030 

Sesqui,  or  peroxide  of  iron  (Fe.2  O.3)— 37.1  per  cent,  of  iron 0.053 

Alumina a  trace 

Carbonate  of  lime 0.004 

Magnesia,  alkalies  (undetermined)  and  loss 0.007 

0.100 

At  Peru  Mr.  Wilson  gave  me  a  fine  sample  of  very  pure  sulphuret  of 
lead,  said  to  be  found  in  that  neighborhood;  he  also  promised  to  inves- 
tigate and  report  further  on  the  facts,  as  the  finder  was  unwilling  then 
to  indicate  the  locality,  although  claiming  that  the  metal  was  very 
abundant,  even  to  the  amount  of  many  tons. 

At  a  quarry  about  a  mile  west  of  town,  where  the  rock  again  ap- 
pears, but  too  silicious  in  character  to  make  good  lime,  we  found  a 
slight  dip  to  the  south-east,  and  obtained  the  following  fossils :  Colum- 
naria  insequalis,  Fenestella  elegans,  Clathropora  frondosa,  Orthis  ele- 
gantula?  (Hall,)  and  an  indistinct  fragment  of  a  trilobite. 

Beech  and  Sugar  tree  appeared  the  prevailing  timber  in  the  southern 
part  of  the  county,  with  some  Elm  and  Oak.  Good  barns  and  school 
houses  indicated  a  prosperous  condition  of  the  inhabitants. 

JAY  AND  BLACKFORD  COUNTIES. 

Blackford,  unfortunately,  we  were  unable  to  visit,  but  it  is  stated  to 
be  a  well-timbered,  rather  level  and  fertile  county,  with  no  rock  show- 
ing itself  near  the  surface,  so  far  as  we  could  learn  ;  Lick  river  and  Sal- 
amanie  produce,  by  their  valleys,  gentle  undulations  for  drainage ;  the 
former  meandering  past  Hartford,  the  central  county  seat,  to  empty  into 
the  former,  which,  after  flowing  with  the  geological  strike  of  the  coun- 
try, parallel  to  the  Mississinewa  and  the  head  waters  of  the  Wabash, 
discharges  into  that  river  at  LaGro,  soon  after  its  curving,  with  a  sudden 
bend,  to  flow  south-westerly  -with  the  dip,  until  it  reaches  the  coal  field 
of  our  State. 

In  Jay  county,  we  observed  also  a  considerable  quantity  of  level  clay 


OF   INDIANA.  75 


land,  which  could  undoubtedly  be  readily  improved  by  drainage.  In 
places  there  is  a  decided  prevalence  of  gravel,  with  some  bowlders. 
Occasionally  the  corn,  on  these  ridges,  seemed  not  so  heavy,  but  the 
potato  crop  looked  remarkably  well.  Sorghum,  also,  seemed  abun- 
dantly cultivated  with  success  in  parts  of  the  county,  and  the  flocks  of 
good  sheep  near  Bloomfield  indicated  an  improving  system  of  hus- 
bandry. The  steam  mills  in  and  around  the  county  seat,  Portland, 
evinced  enterprise,  while  two  newspapers,  in  a  population  short  of  400, 
might  well  arouse  the  astonishment  of  regions  settled  long  before  the 
axe  of  the  white  man  had  felled  a  single  "monarch"  in  this  forest. 

Our  route  through  West  Liberty,  Bloomfield,  Portland  and  Bluff 
Point,  formerly  called  Iowa,  exhibited  Beech,  Sugar  Tree,  Coffee  Tree, 
(Gymnocladus  Canadeusis)  and  Black  Walnut  timber,  all  indicating 
rich  land. 

Further  north,  about  the  junction  of  this  county  with  Wells,  we  oc- 
casionally passed,  on  corduroy  causeways,  small  swamp-muck  prairies, 
luxuriating  in  large  asters,  daisies,  golden  rods,  the  American  aspen, 
(Populus  tremuloides)  willows,  the  indigo  plant,  (Indigofera  carolinien- 
sis,)  smart-weed  and  boneset,  (Eapatorium  perfoliatum ;)  these  lower 
lands  are  flanked,  on  the  surrounding  gravel  ridge,  by  scrubby  oaks,  a 
few  hickories,  hazel  bushes  and  abundant  ferns,  among  which  the  deli- 
cate and  graceful  Maidenhair  (A-diantum  pedatum)  appeared  pre-emi- 
nent. 

Some  of  the  springs  in  this  county  are  stated  to  be  strongly  impreg- 
nated with  Magnesia. 

GRANT  AND  HOWARD  COUNTIES. 

The  new  and  fertile  county  of  How  rd,  formed  from  part  of  the  Miami 
National  Reservation,  we  were  unable  to  visit;  but,  judging  from  its 
position  and  surroundings,  I  should  suppose  that,  in  this  county,  the 
junction  of  the  Upper  Silurian  and  Devonian  would  be  found,  if  the 
rocks  could  be  reached  beneath  the  Drift,  which  undoubtedly  covers 
the  greater  portion  to  a  considerable  depth. 

The  soil  is  represented  as  being  well  adapted  for  corn,  wheat  and  the 
grasses;  timber  is  abundant,  the  farms  being  yet  comparatively  new. 

The  soil  of  Grant  county,  modified  sometimes  by  Upper  Silurian 
limestones  and  shales  disintegrating,  but  composed  chiefly  of  heavy  qua- 
ternary deposits,  exhibits  alternations  of  a  light-colored  soil  on  some  of 
the  higher  undulating  grounds,  resting  on  a  more  productive  reddish 


76  GEOLOGICAL   RECONNOISSANCE 

clay,  with  bowlders,  presented  to  view  wherever  the  lighter  soil  has 
been  washed  away.  Occasional  prairies,  of  rich,  black  soil,  are  inter- 
spersed with  the  woodland,  and  orchards  were  noticed  to  be  abundant 
and  thrifty.  Considerable  flocks  of  sheep  were  •  seen,  and  the  barns 
were  observed  to  be  very  substantial ;  many  of  them  built  on  the  Penn- 
sylvania plan  of  selecting  a  hillside  for  the  foundation. 

The  rock  quarried  in  this  county  is  chiefly  on  or  near  the  Mississin- 
ewa,  seldom  showing  itself,  however,  higher  up  the  river  than  Marion, 
the  county  seat.  Near  this  town,  it  is  taken  out  in  considerable  quan- 
tities for  buildings  and  similar  purposes.  We  noticed  some  excellent 
doorsteps  quarried  and  dressed,  for  the  dwelling  of  Mr.  Wallace, 
brother  to  the  late  Gov.  Wallace.  Some  of  the  layers  afford  slabs, 
which  ring  very  clearly  when  struck,  and  from  which  we  obtained  a 
few  indistinct  fossils,  chiefly  small  orthoceratites. 

The  Woolen  factory  of  Marion  is  situated  on  this  limestone  bluff; 
but  in  many  parts  of  the  town  gravel  is  thrown  out  in  grading,  or  ex- 
cavated in  digging  cellars,  even  at  a  level  somewhat  lower  than  the 
limestone  exposure  ;  the  latter  doubtless  having  been  denuded  in  places, 
which  then  received  the  bowlders  and  gravel  of  the  Drift,  as  well  as 
later  quaternary  deposits  in  hollows  and  "  pockets." 

On  the  road  from  Marion  through  Jonesboro,  leading  toward  Madi- 
son county,  especially  near  Fairmount,  the  clay  mingled  with  the  gravel 
thrown  on  the  roads,  is  so  highly  impregnated  with  peroxycl  of  iron  as 
to  give  to  the  whole  a  strong  yellow-ochre  color. 

The  timber  on  the  same  route  consists  chiefly  of  Beech,  Sugar  Tree 
and  Oak. 

A  mill,  near  Jonesboro,  is  on  Deer  Creek,  which  empties  into  the 
Mississinewa.  The  clover  and  wheat  in  the  red  soil  appeared  heavy  ; 
oats  and  corn  were,  however,  occasionally  somewhat  thin  on  the  lighter 
upland. 

DELAWARE  COUNTY. 

Toward  the  western  limit  of  this  county,  we  observed  some  hills  of 
gravel  and  sand,  with  oak  timber;  the  farms  and  cultivation,  however, 
were  good,  as  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact  that  a  large  amount  of  the 
wheat  crop  had  been  put  in  with  the  drill  machine,  and  that  hay  stacks 
as  well  as  flocks  of  sheep  were  numerous.  Nearer  Muncietown,  the 
county  seat,  there  is  a  greater  admixture  of  clay,  giving  rise  to  a  growth 
of  Beech  and  Sugar  tree.  The  quantity  of  hoop-poles  at  the  depot 


OF  INDIANA.  77 


would  also  indicate  an  abundant  growth  of  hickory.  Mr.  Kirby,  near 
Muncie,  keeps  a  dairy  of  about  one  hundred  cows,  and  manufactures 
cheese.  Land  is  worth  about  one  hundred  dollars  per  acre  in  this  vicin- 
ity, although  some  milk-sickness  still  prevails  in  portions  of  the  county, 
where  formerly  it  was  common. 

Some  very  fine  and  large  specimens  of  bog  iron  ore  were  shown  us  at 
Muncie,  obtained  in  that  vicinity,  where  it  is  reported  to  be  found  in 
considerable  quantities. 

Close  to  the  town  of  Muncie  are  four  large  and  three  smaller  hills  of 
Drift,  bearing  north-west  and  south-east  from  each  other;  one  of  the 
larger,  opened  for  gravel,  exhibits  coarse  bowlders  on  the  north  side, 
gravel  en  the  south  side,  with  fine  sand  beneath  it.  One  hill,  south  of 
this,  is  entirely  composed  of  fine  sand. 

Kock  is  obtained  from  at  least  two  quarries  near  Muncie ;  although 
not  in  very  thick  slabs,  it  is  suitable  for  many  purposes.  The  upper 
layers  are  somewhat  cherty,  the  lower  more  solid  and  pure.  The  dip 
here  seemed  a  little  east  of  south,  while,  at  the  other  quarry,  on  White 
river,  about  a  mile  from  town,  it  appeared  rather  west  of  south.  In 
both  quarries  chain  coral  (Haly sites  cater ularia)  and  Favosites  favosa 
were  found,  although  characteristic  fossils  were  somewhat  rare. 

At  Squire  Gilbert's  quarry,  near  Yorktown,  where  Buck  Creek  dis- 
charges into  White  Eiver,  about  ten  feet  of  rock  were  exposed,  contin- 
uing downwards  to  an  undetermined  depth.  The  upper  layers  are  here 
also  rather  thin,  with  numerous  imbedded  orthoceratites,  (chiefly  ortho- 
ceras  imbricatum,  of  Hall ;)  the  lower,  bluish  beds,  although  somewhat 
silicious  and  hard  to  work,  as  well  as  difficult  to  burn  into  lime,  can  be 
dressed  into  slabs  of  from  a  foot  to  fifteen  inches  in  thickness.  Here, 
too,  the  dip  was  found  to  be  southerly. 

In  digging  wells  at  Yorktown,  they  encounter  rock  at  fifteen  feet 
below  the  surface;  the  water  is  hard,  and  some  springs,  near  there,  are 
chalybeate. 

MADISON  COUNTY. 

The  northern  part  of  this  county,  forming  the  summit  level  between 
the  tributaries  of  the  Wabash  and  those  of  White  river,  is  indicated  by 
our  barometrical  observations  to  be  nearly  1,000  feet  above  high  tide. 
The  highest  portion  passed  over  by  the  parly  running  the  level  for  a 
projected  canal  from  Indianapolis  to  the  Wabash  and  Erie  canal,  is  laid 
down  as  being  942  feet  above  the  sea. 


78  GEOLOGICAL    RECONNOISSANCE 

In  this  region  we  still  found  the  ashen  soil,  spoken  of  in  describing 
Grant  county,  forming  the  more  elevated  undulations,  with  the  red, 
clayey  soil  in  the  bottom,  resting  on  gravel  arid  bowlders,  these  being 
frequently  rudely  stratified  into  curved  beds,  thus : 


White  or 
Ashen  soil. 


Ferruginous 
clay. 


Gravel  and 
Bowlders. 


SEC.  4 — CURVED  QUATERNARY  BEDS  IN  MADISON  COUNTY. 

In  the  lower  part  of  the  county,  where  the  upper  layers  of  rock  are 
of  Devonian  age,  the  soil  is  somewhat  modified.  For  the  analysis  of 
samples  taken  from  the  field  of  Mr.  Irish,  near  Pendleton,  where,  in 
parts  of  his  field,  the  plow  often  encounters  solid  rock,  with  scarcely 
enough  of  earth  to  cover  it,  see  No.  18,  14  and  15  of  Dr.  Peters'  Report. 

Chemical  research  evinces  no  lack  in  this  soil  of  the  elements  neces- 
sary to  the  production  of  fair  average  crops,  and  experience  corrobo- 
rates the  correctness  of  the  theoretical  assumption,  as  wheat  grows  well 
and  corn  only  exhibits  short  crops  after  injudicious  cropping  has  ex- 
hausted some  of  the  inorganic  requisites. 

The  fine  growth  of  Beech,  Sugar  Tree  and  Black  Walnut,  with  some 
Ash,  in  the  adjoining  forest,  amply  corroborates  the  original  fertility  of 
the  virgin  earth.  Wheat,  clover  and  timothy ;  also,  hogs  and  horses, 
are  staple  articles  of  farm  profit ;  we  also  observed  a  fine  breed  of  cattle 
near  Alexandria. 

Beneath  the  upper  layers  of  rock  here,  some  aluminous  shales  disin- 
tegrate, and  exhibit  to  those  digging  cellars  or  wells  a  metal  which 
attracted  some  attention.  It  proved,  on  examination,  to  be  sulphuret 
of  iron. 

At  a  quarry  belonging  to  the  same  Mr.  Irish,  not  far  from  his  farm, 
where  rock  is  excavated  in  considerable  quantities,  we  obtained  the  fol- 
lowing section : 


OF   INDIANA.  79 


FEET.      INCURS. 


1.  Slabs  of  limestone,  susceptible  of  a  fine  polish,  others  with 

a  silicious  grit,  containing  Devonian  fossils,  as  a  Conocar- 
dium,  Favosites  Polyrnorpha,  &c.,  1  to 6 

2.  Good  sandstones 3 

3.  Another  similar  bed,  4  inches  to 6 

4.  Another  similar  bed,  4  inches  to 6 

5.  Sandstone  hardening  by  exposure 1       6 

6.  Yellowish,  rather  hard    and   somewhat  aluminous,  fine- 

grained, silico-calcareous  rock,  to  bed  of  stream,  2  to 4 


Total  ............................................  ....................       15       6 

SEC.  5,  NEAR  PENDLETON,  MADISON  COUNTY. 


.  2,  3,  4  and  5,  distinguished  by  the  quarrymen,  do  not  present 
sufficiently  distinctive  characters  to  be  separated.  At  the  falls  of  Fall 
creek,  the  same  section  exists  with  the  minimum  figures  given  above. 

Four  or  five  miles  south-east  of  this,  occasional  cases  of  milk-sickness 
occur;  but  chill  and  fever,  with  some  typhoid,  are  the  prevailing  types 
of  disease. 

On  the  dividing  ridge  above  alluded  to,  water  is  obtained,  about  20 
feet  below  the  surface,  by  passing  through  bowlders  and  gravel  to  a 
quicksand. 

Near  Alexandria,  on  Big  Pipe  creek,  I  found,  at  Mr.  Galloway's  mill, 
rather  thin  layers  of  silico-calcareous  rock,  in  the  upper  beds,  excavated 
for  building  chimneys  and  walling  cellars  ;  beneath  these,  near  the  sur- 
face of  the  water,  solid  slabs,  six  feet  long  by  four  wide,  or  larger,  if 
necessary,  and  ten  inches  thick,  can  be  quarried,  by  drilling  and  blast- 
ing. The  lower  layers  are  a  bluish  crystalline  limestone,  and  appeared, 
from  the  fragments  of  fossils  obtained,  to  be  of  Upper  Silurian  age. 

The  bowlders  near  here  were  chiefly  granite,  greenstone  and  hard 
sandstone. 

Approaching  Andersontown  we  saw  some  small  prairies;  and  a  cut 
made  for  the  turnpike  exhibited  the  following: 

Decomposing  granite  and  limestone  bowlders,  red  clay,  &c.,  ......  2}  feet. 

Pure,  clear  gravel,  hen-egg  size  ............................................  2    feet. 

Small,  fine  gravel  and  sand  ..........................................  4  to  6    feet. 

Calling  on  Mr.  Henry,  Editor  of  the  "Gazette"  at  Audersontown, 
we  were  directed  to  the  quarries,  about  a  mile  and  a  half  south,  which 


80  GEOLOGICAL   RECONNOISSANCE 

we  found  owned  by  Mr.  Davis  and  Mr.  Moss.  At  both  places  consider- 
able excavations  had  been  made,  usually  to  the  depth  of  about  6  feet, 
affording  slabs,  which  dress  to  eight  inches  in  the  upper  layers,  and  to 
one  foot  thickness  in  the  lower.  Large  orthoc'eratites  prevail  through- 
out, and,  from  between  the  superincumbent  Drift  and  the  rock,  springs 
flow,  descending  into  the  adjoining  bottom  of  White  river. 

RANDOLPH  COUNTY. 

The  soil  around  Winchester,  the  county  seat,  is  chiefly  clayey,  pro- 
ducing good  clover  and  fine  wheat  crops,  that  average  20  bushels,  and 
sometimes  attain  a  maximum  of  37  bushels,  to  the  acre.  On  Mr.  Ir- 
win's  place,  about  4  miles  south-east,  only  a  few  miles  from  the  source 
of  White  river,  an  efflorescence  was  observed  to  form  on  the  earth 
thrown  out  to  the  depth  of  several  feet,  in  digging  a  ditch,  to  drain  a 
few  acres  of  craw- fish,  swamp- willow  land.  By  some  persons  this  salt 
is  supposed,  from  the  taste,  to  be  alum ;  but,  as  the  effect  in  the  mouth 
was  said  to  be  rather  cooling  than  astringent,  it  maybe  nitre;  when  we 
were  there,  no  appreciable  amount  could  be  obtained,  and  a  sample 
promised  to  bo  sent  has  not  yet  reached  the  laboratory. 

In  the  northern  part  of  the  county,  near  Dearfield,  although  there  is 
much  quaternary,  consisting  chiefly  of  bowlders  and  gravel,  yet  the 
aluminous  material  desseminated  through  it,  on  land  already  level, 
causes  it  to  be  somewhat  too  retentive  of  moisture,  giving  growth  to 
flags  and  ferns,  and  requiring  corduroy  or  log  causeways  for  winter  use. 

From  Messrs.  Monks,  Neff  and  Garrett  useful  information  was  ob- 
tained regarding  the  neighborhood  of  Winchester.  Among  hand  speci- 
mens exhibited  by  them  and  represented  as  being  found  within  a  few 
miles  around,  the  coral,  Columnaria  alveolata,  (Favistella  stellata  of 
Hall,)  often  familiarly  termed  "  petrified  wasps  nests,"  proved  the  junc- 
tion of  the  Upper  and  Lower  Silurian  to  be  at  no  great  distance. 

Mr.  David  Heaston  has  bog  iron  ore  on  his  farm  near  town,  three- 
quarters  of  a  mile  up  Sugar  Creek,  and  his  well,  which  we  examined, 
proved  a  strong  chalybeate ;  Mr.  Monks  says  bog  iron  ore  is  also  found 
on  Cabin  Creek,  eight  miles  south-west  from  Winchester,  as  well  as 
at  other  localities  in  that  direction. 

This  gentleman  showed  me  a  rock  somewhat  rounded  by  attrition  or 
weathering,  which  he  had  hauled  to  his  garden,  estimated  by  the  team- 
sters to  weigh  one  ton ;  it  is  made  up  of  a  mass  of  very  hard,  conglomer- 
ated materials;  some  of  the  oval  fragments  being  as  large  as  the  egg  of 


OF   INDIANA.  81 


an  ostrieh,  many  more  the  size  of  a  goose  egg.  Another  curiosity  sub- 
mitted to  our  inspection  by  Mr.  Monks,  consisting  of  a  very  finely  and 
regularly  marked  water-worn  material,  nearly  two  inches  square  by 
from  one-eighth  to  a  quarter  of  an  inch  thick,  was  politely  lent  for 
closer  inspection.  The  markings  being  all  on  one  side,  exhibiting  no 
tubes,  floors,  septa  or  side  pores,  and  the  specimen  effervescing  freely 
with  acid  and  being  soft  enough  to  receive  a  decided  impression  from 
the  knife,  and  the  edge  showing  successive  lines  of  deposition,  it  seems 
most  probable  that  it  is  a  fragment  of  a  hard  shell,  ornamented  with 
markings  by  the  Indians;  and  the  only  wonder  is  that,  without  the  aid 
of  machinery,  so  much  regularity  should  be  obtained.  But  this  seems 
a  case  similar  to  that  of  the  carved  footprints  described  by  my  late 
brother  in  Silliman's  Journal,  and  which  had  been  pronounced  by  some 
English  writers,  who  saw  them  in  the  possession  of  Frederick  Rapp, 
the  founder  of  New  Harmony,  "  almost  too  perfect  to  emanate  from  the 
chisel  of  a  Chantry."  When,  however,  as  really  happened,  various 
specimens  are  found  near  the  same  locality,  of  similar  character,  but 
of  various  grades  from  very  rude  to  fine  sculpture,  we  are  led  to  agree 
with  the  argument  of  my  late  brother,  that  in  all  probability  they  are 
the  workmanship  of  the  Aborigenes,  in  whom  doubtless  sometimes  re- 
side the  elements  to  form  a  Phidias,  should  circumstances  arise  to  call 
forth  the  dormant  power. 

Some  quaternary  ridges  near  Winchester  are  composed  of  coarse 
gravel  on  the  westerly  sides,  of  finer  gravel  with  beautiful,  sharp  sand 
on  the  eastern  slopes.  At  Macksville,  about  four  miles  west  of  Win- 
chester, a  limestone  characterized  by  abundance  of  Pentamerus  oblongus, 
affords,  from  beds  having  a  westerly  dip,  material  for  building  pur- 
poses and  for  kiln-burning  into  lime. 

In  the  low  swamp-muck  grounds  of  middle  Randolph,  which,  how- 
ever, are  being  rapidly  drained,  we  saw,  luxuriating  in  the  fertile  hu- 
mus, the  Chestnut  White  Oak  (Quercus  prinus  palustris  of  Mchx.)  with 
several  of  the  willows,  (I  think  Salix  Candida  and  S.  eriocephala,)  with 
flags  and  swamp  dock?  (Rumex  verticellatus.)  On  somewhat  higher 
portions  are  Beeoh,  Sycamore,  Elm  and  Hackberry,  with  silk  or  milk- 
weed, (Acelapias  cornuti,)  smart-weed,  iron  weeds,  (Vernonia  fascieulata 
arid  sometimes  V.  Noveboracensis,)  and  a  thistle-like  weed,  not  the 
Canada  thistle,  replacing  the  hitherto  abundant  Boneset. 

At  our  camp  near  Winchester,  on  the  west  fork  of  White  River,  we 
observed  four  Sycamores  growing  from  one  root;  and,  apparently  ema- 
nating from  the  same  bases  with  these,  although  doubtless  separate  un- 


82  GEOLOGICAL  RECONNOISSANCE 

der  ground,  a  Ked  Elm  and  a  Hackberry  completed  the  group.  Buck- 
eyes also,  at  this  locality,  grew  around  us. 

Chalybeate  springs  are  very  abundant  in  this  county;  and  among  the 
swamp-muck,  near  Salt  Creek,  from  which  chalybeate  water  oozed 
abundantly,  we  observed  in  places  numerous  dead  shells  of  the  genera 
paludina,  planorbis  and  physa.  Large  bones  have  also  been  dug  from 
these  swamps,  but  we  had  no  opportunity  to  see  any.  We  heard  also 
of  Indian  bones  being  common  in  aboriginal  mounds  and  forts  around 
here,  saw  likewise  some  beaver  dams,  and  learned  that  muskrats  are 
very  abundant. 

For  the  analysis  of  the  very  red  and  productive  soil  obtained  from 
Mr.  James  Clayton's  farm,  three  miles  west  of  Winchester,  see  No.  7  of 
Dr.  Peter's  report.  There  is  also,  near  here,  some  of  the  soil  termed 
"  mulatto." 

After  passing  over  claj  lands,  eight  miles  south  of  Winchester,  the 
soil,  on  approaching  Huntsville,  becomes  gravelly  and  drier,  the  natu- 
ral undulations,  which  amount  to  twenty-five  or  thirty  feet,  serving  well 
for  drainage.  Large  bowlders  are  still  numerous,  and,  judging  from 
saw-mills,  timber  must  yet  be  abundant  in  this  region. 

HENRY  AND  HANCOCK  COUNTIES. 

We  regretted  that  our  visit  to  the  former  was  necessarily  very  brief 
and  the  examinations  impeded  by  heavy  and  continuous  rain. 

After  passing,  on  the  straight-line  "Cincinnati  and  Chicago  Rail- 
road," the  Walnut  Plains  described  when  speaking  of  Wayne  county,  we 
crossed  Flat  Rock  about  four  miles  south  of  New  Castle,  and  Blue  River 
about  half  a  mile  from  town. 

The  soil  generally  is  rather  clayey,  usually  good  for  timothy  and 
clover.  Their  staple  products  are  wheat,  corn  and  grass ;  the  general 
market  for  which  is  Cincinnati,  although  a  considerable  trade  is  also 
kept  up  with  Richmond.  On  the  12th  of  November,  1859,  when  we 
were  at  Newcastle,  the  average  price  of  wheat  was  $1.00,  and  of  corn 
30  cents  per  bushel;  hay  eight  to  ten  dollars  per  ton. 

Oattle  and  hogs  are  raised  abundantly  in  Henry,  likewise  some  sheep ; 
the  horses  bred  seem  of  good  quality  and  the  mule  raising  is,  gradually, 
also  becoming  more  common. 

The  Blue  River  country,  being  finely  watered,  is  especially  well  adapt- 
ed for  grazing  farms. 

Gold  is  washed  abundantly  from  the  quaternary  gravel  drift  near  the 


OF  INDIANA.  83 


mouth  of  a  small  stream  and  a  mill-race,  emptying  about  eight  miles 
form  Newcastle  into  Blue  River;  and  these  localities,  on  closer  exam- 
ination, may  prove  worthy  of  being  more  extensively  worked. 

Bog  Iron  ore  was  thrown  out  while  ditching  Blue  River  about  twelve 
or  thirteen  miles  north  of  Newcastle,  on  Mr.  Raymond's  farm,  section 
1,  township  19  north,  range  10  east,  and  appearances  indicate  that  the 
deposit  is  somewhat  extensive. 

Their  building  materials  of  rock  they  usually  obtain  from  Williams' 
Creek  in  Fayette  county ;  but  shelly  limestone,  suitable  for  road  mak- 
ing and  burning  into  lime,  can  be  found  in  nearly  all  the  branches. 
From  these  materials  several  good  turnpikes  have  been  completed  in 
this  county.  Besides  the  above  Cincinnati  and  Chicago  railroad,  an- 
other railroad,  denominated  the  Southern  Cincinnati  and  Chicago  road, 
has  been  graded,  passing  through  Newcastle  to  Cambridge  City,  Liber- 
ty, in  Union  county,  £c. 

Newcastle,  the  county  seat,  numbers  about  1,300  inhabitants  and  sus- 
tains in  and  around  it  many  excellent  schools,  some  of  high  grade, 
kept  up  the  entire  year  and  giving  courses  in  the  languages  and  mathe- 
matics. 

Knightstown,  the  largest  town  in  the  county,  is  surrounded  by  much 
agricultural  wealth ;  and  Raysville  is  quite  a  thriving  place. 

About  seven  or  eight  miles  west  of  Newcastle,  a  number  of  Indian  skel- 
etons were  disinterred  in  constructing  a  turnpike,  and  about  the  same 
distance  south  of  town  some  remarkable  human  bones  and  skeletons  of 
giant  size  were  dug  out,  with  other  relics,  during  the  making  of  a  road. 

Sugar-Maple,  Oak  and  Walnut  were  observed  to  be  abundant  after 
leaving  the  Walnut  Plains  and  entering  Henry ;  the  county  is  consid- 
ered a  good  fruit  region,  although  here  as  elsewhere  in  middle  and 
northern  Indiana,  the  peach  trees  were  killed  some  years  since. 

They  have  had  some  hog  cholera;  and  we  were  informed  that  the 
prevailing  diseases,  among  the  inhabitants  of  the  county,  are  bilious- 
remittent  in  type,  with  some  typhoid  and  occasional  recent  cases  of 
milk-sickness  in  portions  of  the  county.  Sometimes  the  disease  was 
apparently  traceable  to  certain  springs,  inasmuch  as  the  cases  ceased  to 
appear  in  that  region  after  these  springs  were  fenced  in  from  access  of 
cattle,  through  which  the  poison  is  most  generally  communicated. 

Dr.  Reid  informed  us  that  post-mortem  examinations  usually  disclose 
a  thick  tarry  matter  in  the  stomach  and  intestines,  the  evacuation  of 
which  generally  would  effect  a  cure.  The  constant  nausea,  abdominal 
tenderness,  and  want  of  action  or  engorgement  of  the  liver,  render  it, 


84  GEOLOGICAL   RECONNOISSANCE 

however,  often  difficult  to  produce  sufficient  quietus  for  the  retention  of 
the  necessary  cathartic.  Blistering  on  the  stomach  sometimes  alleviates 
the  irritability,  and  the  softened  condition  of  the  bowels  indicates 
the  propriety  of  diffusible  stimulants,  which  are  consequently  often  suc- 
cessfully employed.  In  some  cases  there  is  an  apparent  tendency  to 
mortification. 

In  this  county  there  are  several  sulphur  and  chalybeate  springs ;  one 
of  the  latter  made  its  appearance  suddenly  in  the  dead  of  winter,  about 
two  years  before  our  visit. 

Well-water  here  is  hard  and  reached  usually  at  from  twenty  to  forty 
feet,  without  encountering  any  rock,  after  passing  through  1.  blue  clay; 
2.  gravel ;  8.  sand. 

Of  Hancock  county  also  we  did  not  see  as  much,  while  passing 
through,  as  was  essential  to  the  formation  of  correct  inferences,  on 
many  important  points. 

The  eastern  part  of  the  county  seems  modified  by  the  proximity  of 
both  Devonian  and  Upper  Silurian  rocks,  and  the  western  brings  the 
Devonian  shales  into  the  region  of  the  knob-sandstones  that  underlie 
parts  of  Marion  and  Johnson. 

The  continuous  predominance  of  Beech  woods  as  we  passed  succes- 
sively through  Charlottsville,  Greenfield,  Philadelphia,  Cumberland,  &c., 
indicated  an  aluminous  soil,  although  the  staves,  oak  poles  and  barrels 
at  depots,  pointed  to  more  arenaceous  ridges;  the  corn,  standing  in 
large  and  close  shocks,  the  meadows,  the  numerous  small  grain  and  hay 
stacks,  some  orchards  and  a  nursery  near  the  eastern  confines,  all  seemed 
to  justify  favorable  conclusions  regarding  the  general  fertility  of  the 
soil  and  the  improved  state  of  agriculture  in  the  county. 

The  railroad  cuts,  usually  low,  evinced  undulations  favorable  for 
drainage  of  the  country,  while  the  streams  crossed  showed  no  want  of 
water  for  the  stock;  and  an  occasional  flouring  mill  demonstrated  the 
correct  use  of  water  power.  The  cuts  being  usually  through  gravel, 
exposing  occasional  bowlders,  proved  the  quaternary  drift  to  have 
spread  over  the  subjacent  rocks,  and  thus  probably  to  have  aided  as  is 
often  seen,  in  adding  fertility  to  their  detritus. 

Further  particulars  must  be  reserved  for  minute  explorations,  where 
instead  of  general  reasoning  from  a  few  striking  facts,  ascertained  de- 
tails can  be  given  in  full. 


OF  INDIANA.  85 


RUSH  COUNTY. 

The  remarks  already  made  regarding  the  western  portion  of  Fayette 
apply  in  a  great  measure  to  the  eastern  part  of  Rush.  The  great  Low- 
er Silurian  plateau  spoken  of,  with  a  growth  of  large  Beech,  Elm,  Su- 
gar Tree,  and  Oak,  and  undergrowth  of  Papaw,  continues  somewhat 
into  Rush ;  the  town  of  Vienna  being  in  that  county,  close  to  the  di- 
viding line.  Thence  we  gradually  descend  on  to  the  Upper  Silurian 
formation.  A  superficial  deposit  of  quaternary  gravels  and  clays  still 
modifies  the  soil,  and  the  same  character  of  fine  farms,  good  barns  and 
dwelling  houses  continues — some  of  the  latter  in  Rush  county  are  evi- 
dently both  costly  and  ornamental ;  the  osage  hedges,  clover  fields  and 
improved  farm  implements  of  this  county  indicate  likewise  high  agri- 
cultural prosperity,  notwithstanding  the  apparent  scarcity,  when  the 
geological  corps  was  there,  (29th  September,  I860,)  of  corn  and  water 
for  stock.  The  county  generally  is  represented  as  possessing  soil  as 
fertile  throughout  as  any  other  county  in  our  State. 

In  Rushville  they  obtain  their  materials  for  works  of  stone-masonry 
partly  from  Vernon,  Jennings  county,  and  partly  from  the  Flat  Rock 
quarries  near  the  Decatur  line  and  in  that  county. 

From  Drs.  Helm  and  Sexton  we  received  valuable  information  bear- 
ing on  our  researches ;  and,  through  the  politeness  of  Mr.  Shaddiuger, 
had  an  opportunity  of  seeing  the  collection  of  Mr.  George  C.  Clark,  at 
the  Court  House,  as  well  as  of  examining  the  very  interesting  artesian 
wells  in  and  adjoining  the  town. 

Some  of  these  are  simply  dug  in  the  usual  manner  and  the  water, 
rising  rapidly  to  the  surface,  flows  over,  others  are  dug  seven  or  eight 
feet,  then  bored  and  tubed,  enabling  the  water  to  be  drawn  off  from 
pipes  some  feet  above  the  surface.  In  all  probability  it  might  be  raised 
even  to  the  second  story  of  the  buildings  or  higher,  as  the  rise  seems 
due  to  the  fact  of  these  springs  deriving  their  head  from  water  which 
has  flowed  along  an  impervious  substratum,  off  the  high  plateau  de- 
scribed above,  and  which  by  my  barometer  is  in  places  nearly  a  hun- 
dred feet  higher  than  the  level  of  Flat  Rock  creek  at  the  bridge,  near 
Rushville. 

These  wells  are  almost  all  strongly  chalybeate ;  and,  when  dug  to 
the  usually  depth  of  twenty  to  twenty-five  feet,  pass  through  soil, 
gravel,  ordinary  clay,  and  lastly  through  tough  blue  clay.  Some  of 


86  GEOLOGICAL   RECONNOISSANCE 

those  bored  here  are  now  running  about  one  pint  per  second ;  others 
somewhat  less.  '  ,j 

Near  the  head  waters  of  Mark  Creek,  where  a  saw  mill  is  establish- 
ed, a  spring  broke  out,  twenty  years  after  the  first  settlement  of  the 
place.  The  artesian  chalybeate  at  Slabtown,  in  Walker  township,  at  the 
mill  near  the  railroad  crossing,  flows  freely,  winter  and  summer,  from 
a  depth  of  twenty-six  feet,  dug  through  gravel  and  clay. 

A  remarkable  feature  connected  with  these  artesian  wells  is  that  all 
which  have  thus  far  been  dug  successfully  are  situated  nearly  on  a  di- 
rect line,  passing  through  the  county,  by  Rushville,  bearing  from  ten  to 
fifteen  degrees  north  of  east  to  the  same  amount  south  of  west. 

The  celebrated  springs  near  Knightstown,  Henry  county,  I  was  in- 
formed, are  situated  in  Rush  county,  not  far  from  the  dividing  line. 

A  considerable  amount  of  bog  iron  ore  was  taken  out  about  five 
miles  east  of  Rushville,  on  the  "Tiner"  farm,  also  on  that  of  the  "Al- 
exanders." About  a  mile  above  there,  near  the  south  bank  of  Little 
Flat  Rock,  a  space,  fifteen  or  twenty  rods  long  by  some  eight  rods  wide, 
was  so  impregnated  with  oxide  of  iron  that  nothing  would  grow;  and 
sulphate  of  iron  was  also  found.  Not  far  from  this  neighborhood  salt 
was  formerly  made,  by  boiling  and  evaporating  the  spring  water,  ac- 
cording to  the  primitive  usage  of  frontier  settlements  and  times;  where- 
as now  it  is  found  more  profitable  to  reach  by  expensive  shafts  a 
stronger,  subterranean  brine. 

According  to  data  kindly  furnished  by  the  County  Surveyor  a  point 
in  Fayette  county,  about  two  miles  east  of  Vienna,  is  eleven  feet  higher 
than  the  highest  point  in  Rush  ;  and  this  point  is,  if  I  understand  him. 
correctly,  according  to  the  levels  run  for  the  Junction  railroad,  386  feet 
above  Indianapolis.  By  the  table  of  altitudes  given  by  Messrs.  Stans- 
bury  and  "Williams,  the  bottom  of  the  canal  at  Indianapolis  is  337  feet 
above  high  water  mark  at  Evansville,  and  the  latter  place,  according  to 
Mr.  Ellett,  is  320  feet  above  high  tide,  although  according  to  Messrs. 
Stansbury  and  Williams  it  is  361.  Assuming  the  former,  then  the 
highest  point  in  Rush  would  be  1.043  above  high  tide,  by  the  latter, 
1,084  feet. 

DECATUR  COUNTY. 

In  the  north-west  part  of  this  county,  approaching  the  county 
seat,  Greensburgh,  from  the  Shelby  county  line,  we  passed  alternations 
of  level  and  undulating,  rather  clayey  land,  affording  growth  for  fine 


OF    INDIANA.  87 


Beech  woods  and  extensive  meadows,  besides  the  usual  staples  of  corn 
and  wheat.  Cattle,  hogs,  mules  and  sheep  were  abundant;  the  latter 
browsing  on  the  short  sweet  herbage  of  gently  rolling,  quaternary 
hills. 

Further  south,  Poplar  and  Oak  timber  are  more  abundant,  and  on 
"Narrow-bone  ridge"  we  observed  splendid  trees  of  Black  Walnut, 
Poplar,  Sugar  Tree,  Beech  and  Ash. 

The  county  furnishes  excellent  building  rock  at  the  quarries  of  Flat 
Rock  Creek  and  Jordan ;  with  these  materials  they  have  constructed  a 
magnificent  Court  House.  Some  samples  of  the  St.  Paul  or  Flat  Rock 
stone,  dressed  for  Cincinnati,  were  twenty-two  inches  thick  and  weigh- 
ed one  hundred  and  eighty-eight  pounds  to  the  cubic  foot ;  from  these 
quarries  fifty  hands  daily  ship  from  twelve  to  fifteen  car  loads,  besides 
burning  large  quantities  of  lime.  The  stone  usually  averages  from  six 
to  twenty  inches,  and  when  placed  in  the  foundation  of  heavy  build- 
ings, as  the  Court  House,  evidently  proves  itself  well  adapted  to  sustain 
great  pressure.  From  an  examination  of  the  tombstones  in  an  old 
grave-yard,  both  the  Flat  Rock  and  Jordan  quarry  stones  stand  the 
weather  well.  Some  of  these  had  almost  the  appearance  of  marble, 
and  had  preserved  their  edges  sharply.  With  the  pleasure  and  advan- 
tage of  being  piloted  by  Mr.  Bonner,  member  for  this  agricultural  dis- 
trict, we  visited  the  Jordan  quarry,  passing  two  miles  south  of  town  by 
the  strong  chalybeate  spring  of  Dr.  Wheeldon.  At  six  miles  we  cross- 
ed a  fork  of  Sand  Creek,  the  whole  bed  of  which  is  rock,  and  six  and 
a  half  miles  a  little  east  of  south  from  Greensburgh  we  came  to  the 
Jordan  river  and  quarries,  the  lower  beds  of  which  are  there  a  few  feet 
above  the  level  of  the  stream,  capped  by  some  layers  almost  marble. 
Following  the  meanders  of  Jordan  down  stream,  we  found  these  upper 
harder  layers  sometimes  standing  out  in  bold  relief  as  table  rocks, 
twenty-five  feet  above  the  stream,  the  Jordan  having  a  rapid  fall,  while 
the  dip  is  very  slight.  The  softer  magnesian  limestone  with  its  ortho- 
ceratites  and  lituites  has  often  disintegrated  under  the  united  action  of 
air  and  water,  sometimes  forming  cavernous  sinuosities  large  enough  to 
tempt  boyish  adventure  in  exploration,  with  the  hope  of  developing  a 
new  cave  to  rival  Wyandot  or  the  Mammoth  of  Kentucky.  Some- 
times even  the  upper  strong  material,  like  the  table  rock  of  Niagara, 
can  no  longer  sustain  its  own  weight  and  is  precipitated  into  the  bed 
of  the  stream.  One  of  these  large  masses  was  pointed  out  to  us,  which 
from  its  accidental  resemblance,  has  been  denominated  "the  coffin." 


GEOLOGICAL  RECONNOISSANCE 


JENNINGS  COUNTY. 

This  county  is  justly  celebrated,  judging  from  the  samples  shown  us, 
for  the  excellent  quality  of  the  building  materials  obtained  at  numer- 
ous quarries.  Mill-stones  are  also  taken  out,  which  are  well  adapted 
for  grinding  corn.  Near  North  Vernon  they  claim  to  have  marble  ;  but 
we  were  unable  to  obtain  a  sample  for  examination.  As  the  corps  wa& 
accidentally  prevented  from  including  this  county  in  the  fall  survey  of 
1860,  although  it  was  embraced  in  the  original  route  laid  down,  it  is 
exceedingly  desirable  that  localities  so  full  of  geological  and  mineral 
interest  should  be  fully  examined  and  reported  upon. 

Mr.  Legg,  of  Vincennes,  proprietor  of  coal  mines  in  Daviess  county, 
informed  me  that  in  digging  a  well  two  miles  north  of  Yernon,  the 
county  seat  of  Jennings,  they  found,  about  twenty-eight  or  thirty  feet 
below  the  surface,  a  considerable  amount  of  two  metallic  ores,  one  sup- 
posed to  be  antimony  and  the  other  not  known.  Had  these  specimens 
been  immediately  forwarded  to  the  laboratory,  they  would  have  been 
analyzed  and  the  results  embodied  in  this  report. 

Part  of  Jennings  is  said  to  be  rather  too  broken  for  arable  purposes ; 
but  would  make  excellent  grazing  land  or  vineyards,  and  afford  valua- 
ble water  power.  Probably  the  western  part  of  the  county  will  be 
found  chiefly  characterized  by  Devonian  limestones,  as,  judging  theo- 
retically, the  junction  of  these  with  the  Upper  Silurian  rocks  must  crop 
out  about  that  region. 

JEFFEPvSON   COUNTY. 

Ascending  the  hill  back  of  Madison  through  the  deep  railroad  cut, 
we  found  in  the  lower  and  middle  portions  abundance  of  Lower  Silu- 
rian fossils,  whereas  after  passing  North  Madison  and  ascending  to  the 
general  level  of  the  country  the  Upper  Silurian  gives  character  to  the 
soil.  In  the  lower  part  of  the  cut,  Strophomena  (Leptsena)  alternata,  a 
few  Trilobites,  (chifly  Calymene  senaria,)  Ambonychia  carinata,  and  A. 
radiata,  Modiolopsis  modiolaris,  Pleurotomaria  percarinata,  and  Orthis 
(Spirifer)  lynx  are  readily  obtained;  somewhat  higher  up  are  Strepta- 
lasma  corniculum  or  Orthoceratites;  with  Avicula  demissa,  Atrypa  in- 
crebescens,  Leptsena  sericea,  Murchisonia  gracilis,  and  Asaphus  canalis, 
(Isotelus  gigas,)  Orthis  testudinaria  and  O.  occidentals  extend  a  long 
distance,  succeeded,  at  about  350  feet  above  low  water,  by  a  dark- 


v^^iL 

/      »'     OF  THE 

I    UNIVERSiT 


OF    INDIANA.  91 


colored  coraliferous  limestone,  with  a  continuous  baud  or  layer, 
over  two  feet  thick,  chiefly  made  up  of  Columnaria  alveolata  (Favistel- 
la  stellata  of  Hall,)  considered  as  often  marking  the  upper  limit  of  the 
Lower  Silurian.  With  this  were  some  large  nodules  of  calcite  and  pearl 
spar. 

Above  this  a  silico- calcareous  rock,  with  some  cherty  layers,  makes 
its  appearance,  in  which  we  failed  to  detect  fossils,  but  from  which  Mr. 
Thurston,  of  Madison,  presented  some  fine  Trilobites,  (Calymene  Blu- 
menbachii.)  Undoubtedly  these  various  cuts  for  the  railroad,  forming 
the  inclined  plane  of  ascent  from  Madison  to  the  interior,  have  devel- 
oped for  the  palseontological  collection  a  rich  field,  which  should  be 
thoroughly  explored  and  described. 

Above  the  Columnaria  bed  the  arenaceous  limestone  layers  offer  to 
view  an  anticlinal  axis  having  a  slight  northerly  and  southerly  dip ; 
these  are  surrounded  by  eight  or  ten  feet  of  aluminous  shales,  again 
capped  by  six  or  eight  feet  of  cherty,  porous  limestone.  The  mingled 
Upper  Silurian,  with  some  quaternary  detritus  of  North  Madison,  suc- 
ceed these  stratigraphical  layers  and  develop  on  the  adjacent  farm  of 
Mr.  Elias  Stapp  a  fine  clay  extensively  used  in  the  foundries  near  there. 
"We  obtained  a  sample  for  analysis. 

The  view  from  this  section  of  country  through  the  cut  to  Madison 
is  truly  magnificent,  and  we  have  endeavored  to  give  a  faint  idea  of  it  by 
a  sketch ;  it  is  equaled,  we  were  told,  by  the  river  prospect  in  coming 
from  South  Hanover  (the  location  of  a  thriving  college,  which  we  re- 
gretted not  having  time  to  visit,)  up  the  river  to  Madison. 

In  this  county,  two  or  three  miles  north  of  Bethlehem,  on  the  Ohio 
river,  close  to  the  Clark  county  line,  is  situated  the  celebrated  "Dean 
Marble  Quarry  "  so  fully  described  in  the  first  report  of  the  late  State 
Geologist,  alike  suitable  for  good  building  materials  and  for  ornamen- 
tal purposes,  such  as  table,  bureau,  and  wash-stand  tops. 

In  cutting  and  polishing  these,  as  well  as  in  the  rough  quarry  rock, 
numerous  fossils  exhibit  themselves,  chiefly  gasteropods  of  the  genus 
Murchisonia,  (species  bellacincta  and  bicincta.)  From  low  water  in  the 
Ohio  here  to  the  base  of  the  marble  quarry,  is  about  two  hundred  feet 
by  my  barometer,  above  which  a  silico-calcareous  rock,  or  perhaps  more 
properly  an  aluminous  and  silicious  limestone  extends,  for  twenty  or 
thirty  feet,  with  cherty  limestone  surmounting  the  whole. 

Jefferson  county  also  affords  the  beautiful,  Lower  Devonian  coral, 
Pleurodictyum  problematicum ;  indeed  the  uplands,  near  the  line  of 
junction  with  Floyd  county  are  chiefly  Devonian. 


92  GEOLOGICAL   RECONNOISSANCE 


SEC.  III.— COUNTIES  IN  THE  DEVONIAN  SYSTEM. 

The  greater  portion  of  the  following  counties  were  found  so  charac- 
terized as  to  rank  them  in  the  Devonian  system,  viz.:  Cass,  Carroll, 
Tipton,  Hamilton,  Shelby,  Bartholomew,  Jackson,  Scott  and  Clark. 

SUB-SUCTION  1. — GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. — The  geological  assemblage 
of  rocks  often  termed  the  Devonian  system  consists  with  us,  in  the 
lower  Pleurodictyum  problematium  beds  of  Jefferson  and  Scott  coun- 
ties ;  and  in  the  middle  sub-divisions,  of  beautiful  limestones,  alterna- 
ting with  others  more  cherty  and  aluminous,  replete  with  splendid  fos- 
sils, such  as  those  found  so  abundantly  about  Charlestown  and  Utica, 
Clark  county,  and  the  Ohio  Falls,  chiefly  large  masses  of  coral,  belong- 
ing especially  to  the  families  Favositidss  and  Cyathophyllidse,  ranging 
from  the  delicate  tabulated  Syringopora  to  the  gigantic  Zaphrentis,  also 
Brachiopodous  and  Conchiferous  mollusks,  from  the  curious  slipper- 
shaped  bivalve  of  the  family  Orthidse  (Calceola  sandalina)  to  the  snout- 
ed Conocardium  and  delicate  Lucinia  proavia.  This  is  probably  the 
equivalent  to  the  great  Eifel  limestone  or  calceola  schists  of  Europe. 
The  upper  sub-divisions  are  more  aluminous  in  character,  being  espe- 
cially represented  in  Indiana  at  various  points  from  New  Albany,  on  the 
Ohio,  to  Delphi,  on  the  Wabash,  and  in  the  same  north-west  line  to- 
wards the  lakes,  by  a  bituminous,  argillaceous  black  shale,  (often  con- 
taing  beautiful  lingulas,)  which  has  been  frequently  mistaken  for  a  coal 
shale,  but  which  is  yet  geologically  far  beneath  the  true  carboniferous 
deposits.  To  these  upper  beds,  the  equivalent  apparently  of  the  Rhen- 
ish Goniatite  schists,  as  well  as  of  the  Gennessee  slate  of  the  New  York 
Geologists,  we  assign  Jackson  county  with  its  Goniates  and  Orthoceratites. 

In  Great  Britain,  where  this  system  frequently  receives  the  name  of 
the  "Old  Bed  Sandstone,"  Prof.  Johnston  describes  it  as  being  in  its 
upper  part  made  up  of  red  sandstone  and  indurated  sandy  gravel,  its 
middle  of  clayey  marls  and  impure  silicious  limestones,  and  the  lowest 
of  mottled  sandstones,  sometimes  wholly  silicious,  at  other  times  par- 
tially calcareous  in  character. 

In  Europe,  too,  fishes  of  remarkable  type,  sported  in  the  Devonian 
seas,  such  as  those  described  by  H.  Miller  in  his  fascinating  "Red 
Sandstone,"  the  Cephalaspis,  with  its  external  buckler  of  bone  to  pro- 
tect its  cartilaginous  interior,  the  Holoptychius  with  tubercled  scales, 
the  winged  and  horned  Pterichthys,  and  its  equally  remarkable  conge- 
ner the  Coccosteus,  all  of  them  fishes  more  resembling  our  sharks,  rays, 
gars  and  sturgeons,  than  our  perches  or  salmon. 


OF  INDIANA.  93 


SUB-SECTION  2. — SOILS,  AGRICULTURAL  PRODUCTS,  &c. — The  soils  re- 
sulting from  the  disintegration  of  the  Indiana  Devonian  rocks,  we 
found  in  many  instances  of  excellent  quality;  although  occasionally 
varying  somewhat  in  character  from  the  proximity  of  other  formations, 
as  may  be  more  fully  traced  in  the  description  of  the  separate  counties 
of  this  formation. 

Some  English  writers  have  characterized  the  "  Old  Ked  "  as  giving 
rise  to  some  of  the  finest  agricultural  regions  in  Great  Britain ;  but 
others  assert  that  this  is  the  case  only  where  there  are  intercalations  of 
marl. 

The  agricultural  products  in  this  geological  area  of  Indiana  are  rather 
small-grain  and  grasses,  than  Indian  corn ;  some  of  the  counties, 
however,  cultivate  the  latter  also  successfully,  and  raise  considerable 
droves  of  hogs. 

SUB-SECTION  3. — BOCK  QUARRIES,  &c. — Some  of  the  limestones  of  De- 
vonian age  furnish  beautiful  building  materials;  and  as  Cass  county  is 
assigned  to  this  formation,  although  some  ot  the  lower  beds  are  Upper 
Silurian,  we  may  here  cite  the  numerous  quarries  in  and  around  Lo- 
gansport.  The  building  materials  in  the  quarries  of  Hamilton  and 
Shelby  counties  are  also  from  near  the  junction  of  the  Upper  Silurian 
and  Devonian;  but  the  pure  lime  shipped  so  abundantly  from  Clark 
county  is  entirely  burnt  from  Devonian  limestones,  while  the  western 
part  of  Bartholomew  furnishes  rock  derived  from  the  sub- carboniferous 
sandstones. 

SUB-SECTION  4. — METALLIC  ORES. — With  the  exception  of  the  gold 
washings  to  be  spoken  of  in  describing  Carroll  and  Clinton  counties,  - 
and  some  carbonate  of  iron  found  locally  in  the  ash-colored  shales  over 
the  black  Mate  in  some  knobby  regions,  few  metals  of  importance  were 
brought  to  the  notice  of  the  corps  in  the  counties  of  this  formation ; 
yet,  although  metallic  ores  of  good  quality  are  not  usually  so  abundant 
in  this  stratigraphical  section,  as  in  some  others,  it  is  quite  possible  that 
more  extended  research  may  develop  some  minerals  worthy  of  the 
practical  operative's  attention. 

SUB-SECTION  5. — TIMBER  AND  PREDOMINANT  VEGETATION. — Beech  tim- 
ber seems  the  prevalent  growth,  particularly  on  the  clay  soils,  resulting 
from  the  disintegration  of  the  aluminous  shales;  but  other  valuable 
trees  are  also  abundant  in  various  parts  of  the  formation,  such  as  Sugar 
Tree,  Black  and  White  Walnut,  Ash,  with  some  Buckeye  and  Wild 
Cherry. 

SUB-SECTION  6. — SPRINGS,  &c. — Mineral  springs  are  probably  not  so 


94  GEOLOGICAL    RECONNOISSANCE 

common  in  this  as  in  some  other  formations ;  but  we  have,  back  of 
Jeffersonville,  a  chalybeate  which  was  formerly  much  frequented  as  a 
watering  place  and  summer  resort.  The  analysis  of  this  water  will  be 
found  in  the  description  of  Clark  county.  Several  medicinal  springs 
are  spoken  of  when  describing  Carroll  county. 

SUB-SECTION  7. — MISCELLANEOUS  FACTS  REGARDING  PREVALENT  DISEASES, 
&c. — Although  bilious  and  remittent  fevers  are  not  so  common  perhaps 
as  in  the  alluvial  bottoms,  nor  milk-sickness  so  prevalent  as  in  parts  of 
the  coal  measures,  yet  on  the  cold  clays  of  the  black  slate,  the  latter  has 
been  reported  in  places,  and  some  chill  and  fever  observed ;  as  well  as 
the  ever  prevalent  typhoid  and  not  uncommon  winter  fever  or  pneu- 
monia. 

SUB-SECTION  ,8. — CHARACTERISTIC  FOSSILS  : — 

A.  RADIATES. — 

a.  Corals:    Favosites  Goldfussi, 

F.  basaltica,  (Gothlandica,) 
F.  polymorpha, 
F.  dubia, 
F.  reticulata, 
F.  mammillaris, 
F.  maxima, 
F.  fibrosa, 

Emmonsia  hemispherica, 
E.?  cyiindrica, 
Syringopora  tabulata, 
S.  tubiporoides, 
Zaphrentis  corniculum, 
Z.  Eafinesque, 
Z.  gigantea, 
Amplexus  Yandelli, 
Aulacophyllum  sulcatum, 
Hadrophyllum  Orbignyi, 
Cyathophyllum  rugosum, 
Heliophyllum  Halli, 
Acervularia  Davidsoni, 
Eridophyllum  strictum. 

b.  Acalephs. 

c.  Echinoderms:  sub-division  Crinoicls, 

Olivanites  Yerneuili. 


OF  INDIANA.  95 


B.  MOLLUSKS. — 

d.  Molluscoid  Bryozoa.    Fenestella  antiqua,  (Lonsdale,) 

F.  tenuiceps,  (Hall,)  [This  species,  found 
on  the  Falls,  is  probably  Upper  Silurian.] 

e.  Brachiopods.     [Spirigerina  reticularis,  Caleeola  sandalina,] 

A  try  pa  aspera, 

Athyris  concentrica, 

[Spirifer  mucronatus,]     &'  <i  \ 

S.  cultrijugatus, 

S.  euritines, 

Terebratula ? 

[Pentamerus  galeatus,] 

Lingula  prima  ? 

/.  Conchifers.     Conocardium  (Pleurorynchus)  trigonalis, 
Lucina  proavia, 
Megalodon  cucullatus. 
g.  Gasteropods.     [Euomphalus  serpens?] 
h.  Ceplialopods.     Goniatites  rotatorius, 

G.  sinuosus, 

Orthoceras  laterale  ? 

C.  ARTICULATES. — 

k.   Worms. 

L  Crustaceans:  sub-division  Trilobites. 

[Phacops  macrophthalma  or  Phacops  bufo,] 

Calymene  crassimarginata. 
m.  Insects. 

D.  VERTEBRATES. — 

n.  Fishes. 
o.  Reptiles, 
p.  Birds, 
q.  Mammals. 

SUB-SECTION  9. — DETAILED  DESCRIPTION  OP.  THE  COUNTIES  IN  THIS  GEO- 
LOGICAL FORMATION. — 

CASS  COUNTY. 

This  county  and  even  Carroll  might  with  propriety  have  been  de- 
scribed among  the  Upper  Silurian  counties,  inasmuch  as  Pentamerus 
occidentalis  and  other  fossils  characteristic  of  the  above  formation  are 


96  GEOLOGICAL    RECONNOISSANCE 

found  abundantly;  but  as  these  show  themselves  only  at  low  natural 
cuts,  chiefly  on  the  Wabash,  and  as  the  uplands  of  both  counties  de- 
rive a  great  portion  of  their  character  from  Devonian  rocks,  modified 
by  quaternary  erratic  deposits,  it  seems  more  appropriate  to  class  these 
counties  with  the  Devonian. 

In  Cass  they  claim  to  have  several  characters  of  soil : 

1.  South  of  the  Wabash  a  rich  sandy  loam,  with  clay  subsoil. 

2.  North  of  the  Wabash  a  more  sandy  soil. 

3.  Between  the  Wabash  and  Eel  rivers  there  is  excellent  wheat  land, 
the  result  of  a  due  admixture  of  the  arenaceous  soil  with  an  aluminous 
gravel.     All  these  are  based  on  limestone.      Considerable  quantities  of 
good  sized  bowlders  are  found  throughout  the  county,  particularly  along 
the  Wabash  valley. 

A  short  distance  below  Logansport,  we  found  limestones  in  the  bed 
of  the  river,  with  a  slight  dip  westerly,  but  nearer  town,  not  far  from 
the  mouth  of  Eel  river,  the  dip  was  observed  to  be  locally  rather  north- 
erly. Going  out  along  the  canal  towards  a  cut  made  for  the  Cincinnati 
railroad  in  passing  through  the  low  land,  we  found  limestone  with  De- 
vonian fossils,  Favosites  basaltica,  (Gothlandica,)  and  at  the  foot  of  the 
hill  observed  large  quantities  of  calcareous  tufa,  impregnated  with  iron, 
from  a  chalybeate  spring  just  above.  The  lower  portion  of  the  cut  ex- 
hibits a  "  hard  pan  '"  of  bluish  clay,  with  small  gravel ;  the  upper  part 
consists  of  20  to  25  feet  of  ordinary  gravel. 

Mr.  Green,  of  Logansport,  who  has  had  extensive  experience  in  quar- 
rying, pointed  out  an  encrinital  limestone  in  thin  layers  on  the  south 
side  of  the  Wabash  at  this  place,  which  has  been  considerably  used  as 
a  firestone,  and  exposed  to  high  heat,  without  exhibiting  any  signs  of 
cracking  or  crumbling.  The  same  shows  itself  about  two  miles  south, 
on  the  Wabash  Valley  road,  in  beds,  disappearing  with  a  westerly  dip. 

Four  miles  below  Logansport,  the  limestone  quarried  contains  con- 
siderable quantities  of  calcareous  spar  and  sulphuret  of  iron,  but,  two 
miles  further  down  the  Wabash,  a  saccharoid  limestone,  apparently  of 
good  quality,  hard  and  compact,  is  quarried,  and  was  used  for  the  con- 
struction of  piers  to  sustain  the  bridge  across  the  Wabash,  for  the  To- 
ledo, Logansport  and  Burlington  railroad.  For  coping  stones  they  usu- 
ally import  from  the  Fisher  quarry,  in  Wabash  county,  or  from  Dayton, 
Ohio. 

The  hills  on  both  sides  of  the  Wabash,  near  this  true  limestone,  and 
overlying  it,  are  made  up  of  a  rock  which  effervesces  slightly  with  acids, 
but  which,  from  its  peculiar  texture  and  working,  is  denominated  by 


OF   INDIANA.  97 


the  stone  masons  a  freestone.  Portions  of  it  may  be  considered  a  true 
silicious  limestone,  standing  well  in  walls ;  while,  farther  back  in  the 
hill,  some  layers  approach  to  a  marble,  rather  disposed  to  be  friable 
until  the  quarry  water  has  evaporated. 

Under  the  guidance  of  Mr.  Wright,  State  Senator  from  this  county, 
we  visited  a  locality  three  miles  above  Logansport,  where  a  layer  of  sup- 
posed hydraulic  limestone,  (of  which  a  sample  was  taken  for  analysis,) 
n  derlies  the  Favosites  limestone. 

From  Logansport  they  ship  large  quantities  of  veneers  to  Cincinnati 
and  New  York,  chiefly  of  Black  Walnut.  We  were  informed  that  these 
are  sometimes  worth  nine  cents  per  foot,  and  that  a  large,  old,  gnarled 
tree,  preferred  on  account  of  the  varied  markings,  wilbmake  from  ten 
to  fifteen  thousand  feet  or  more  of  veneering:  one  saw  cutting  about 
five  thousand  feet  per  day.  Judging  from  these  figures,  this  depart- 
ment of  business  seems  well  worthy  of  attention  in  portions  of  Indiana, 
where  the  Black  Walnut  growth  is  extensive. 

CARROLL  COUNTY. 

This  county,  entered  from  the  South,  exhibits,  near  the  town  of  Prince 
William,  in  the  valley  of  the  middle  fork  of  Wild-Cat,  as  well  as 
later,  at  the  north  fork,  a  considerable  amount  of  Quaternary,  compris- 
ing thirty  to  thirty-five  feet  of  bluish  hard-pan  clay,  observed  on  ascend- 
ing from  the  river,  then  yellowish,  loose  gravel,  with  interspersed  bowl- 
ders, the  various  layers  separated  by  distinct  horizontal  lines  of  stratifi- 
cation, and  springs  occasionally  welling  from  above  the  lower  aluminous 
stratum.  On  reaching  the  general  level  of  the  country,  sixty  feet  above 
the  bed  of  Wild-Cat  at  the  ford,  and  traveling  towards  Delphi,  the 
county  seat,  the  crops  of  good  clover,  and  the  rank  growth  of  boneset, 
(Eupatorium  perfoliatum,)  in  connection  with  extensive  surface  cracks 
in  the  soil,  denoted  a  predominance  of  clay,  requiring  pretty  thorough 
drainage. 

In  this  region,  part  of  which  appears  newly  settled,  crops  of  flax  are 
rather  abundant,  raised  chiefly  for  the  seed :  the  farmers  expressed  a 
desire,  in  connection  with  this  culture,  to  learn  some  method  of  work- 
ing up  the  stalk  fibre,  which  at  present  is  generally  thrown  out  as  refuse, 
after  the  extracting  of  the  seed  by  threshing. 

Near  Delphi  we  obtained  the  following  section  : 


98  GEOLOGICAL  RECONNOISSANCE 

TKKT. 

Soil  and  loose  gravel,  &c 10-15 

Quaternary  hard  pan  and  conglomerate 15-20 

Devonian  black  slate 50-60 

Devonian  limestone 150 

Upper  Silurian  Pentamerus  beds 20 

At  the  lime-kiln  just  below  town  we  found  a  local  dip  to  the  south- 
east, amounting  to  40.° 

The  black  slate  has  been  washed  out  in  the  valley  between  Deer  creek 
and  the  Wabash,  and  the  detritus  scattered  over  the  Devonian  lime- 
stones, which  contain  Emmonsia  hemispherica,  and  other  fossils,  over- 
lying the  Stromatopora  concentrica  and  Pentamerus  occidentalis  lime- 
stone. 

Between  two  and  three  miles  from  Delphi,  considerable  samples  of 
gold  have  been  washed,  from  the  Drift  in  the  bed  and  bank  of  the  creek, 
a  locality  well  meriting  further  examinations. 

Cases  having  occurred  in  this  county  which  indicated  milk-sickness, 
or  which,  at  least,  by  some  of  the  physicians,  were  assigned  to  that  class 
of  disease,  several  springs  were  qualitatively  examined  at  their  sources; 
but,  after  the  employment  of  delicate  reagents,  no  poisonous  ingredient, 
at  least  of  a  metallic  nature,  could  be  detected. 

On  Deer  creek,  a  few  miles  from  Delphi,  vast  quantities  of  calcareous 
tufa  have  formed,  by  filtration  of  water  through  the  overlying  quater- 
nary deposits,  and  subsequent  evaporation .  and  consolidation,  while 
trickling  slowly  over  the  black  slate  bluffs  of  the  stream.  The  stalac- 
titic  and  columnar  forms,  often  ornamented  by  distinct  impressions  of 
leaves  on  the  soft  tufa,  with  cavernous  niches  decked  out  in  the  rich 
profusion  of  cryptogamic  vegetation,  chiefly  of  the  liverwort  family, 
added  to  the  rippling  streamlets  forming  cascades,  as  they  are  precipi- 
tated from  cedar-clad  Drift  hills,  finally,  over  30  to  40  feet  of  black  slate, 
into  the  meanders  of  Deer  creek,  all  conspire  to  form  a  highly  pictu- 
resque scene,  well  worthy  of  a  more  extended  and  detailed  sketch  than 
the  one  which  time  permitted  on  this  exploration,  and  which  is  here 
subjoined. 

On  these  examinations  we  had  the  advantage  of  being  piloted  by  Dr. 
Beck,  Messrs.  Holt,  Milroy  and  Baum.  Two  paper  mills  in  town,  be- 
sides large  warehouses  for  storing  produce,  added  to  other  indications 
of  industry  and  activity,  denote  this  to  be  a  place  of  thrift  and  enter- 
prise. 


OF  INDIANA.  101 


On  crossing  the  river  below  the  dam  at  Pittsburg,  about  two  miles 
from  Delphi,  and  ascending  the  north  bank  of  the  Wabash,  the  heavy 
quaternary  deposits  are  found  made  up  of  alternate  clay  and  gravel  beds. 
The  town  is  from  twenty  to  twenty-five  feet  above  low  water ;  and  a 
spring  flowing  near  the  level  of  the  streets,  but  deriving  its  head  from 
above  a  clay  bed  forty  feet  higher  up,  has  been  ingeniously  made  to  as- 
cend inside  a  hollow  willow  tree,  and  to  pour  out  in  a  small  artesian 
stream,  by  inserting  a  pipe  into  the  trunk  of  the  tree,  at  a  convenient 
height  for  domestic  accommodation. 

After  attaining  the  general  level  of  the  country  on  the  road  to  Mon- 
ticello,  about  a  hundred  feet  above  low  water  in  the  Wabash,  we  trav- 
eled on  Drift  bowlders  and  gravel,  sometimes  forming  ridges  giving 
growth  to  Black  Jacks,  small  Hickories  and  White  Oaks,  Hazel  bushes, 
some  sumachs  and  mulleins,  while,  ten  to  fifteen  feet  lower,  occasionally 
intervened  moderate  areas  of  rick  swamp-muck  prairie,  studded  with 
yellow  asters,  numerous  pink,  bell-shaped  corollas,  contrasting  with 
these  and  others  of  a  bright  blue,  besides  sour  dock,  flags,  boneset,  &c. 

Thus  were  brought  into  juxtaposition  soils,  on  which  the  industry  of 
the  farmer  was  carrying  out  quantities  of  manure,  to  supply  the  neces- 
sary organic  and  inorganic  fertilizers,  with  other  lands  too  rich  for  small 
grain  until  cropped  in  Indian  corn.  Sorghum  and  good  corn,  orchards, 
and  flocks  of  sheep,  with  some  fine  cattle  and  substantial  barns,  spoke 
of  good  husbandry. 

South  of  the  Wabash,  we  observed  in  this  county  the  swamp  White 
Oak,  (Quercus  primus  discolor,)  which  resembles  the  White  Oak  (Quer- 
cus  alba)  and  affords  posts  remarkable  for  their  durability.  Indeed,  Mi- 
chaux  considers  it  superior  to  White  Oak,  and  recommends  its  encour- 
agement, "to  the  exclusion  of  the  Red  Flowering  Maple,  Bitternut, 
Hickory  and  Hornbeam,  all  of  which  frequent  swampy  land,  where  little 
else  would  grow. 

TIPTOF  AND  HAMILTON  COUNTIES. 

Of  the  former  we  cannot  speak  from  , personal  inspection,  although 
we  passed  once  near  the  eastern  limit  of  the  county,  and  at  another 
time  near  the  west.  Judging  from  these  and  reports  furnished  us,  it 
seems  generally  level,  from  heavy  quaternary  deposits ;  it  is  also  well 
timbered,  and  favorably  situated  for  exporting  produce,  as  the  Indiana- 
polis and  Peru  railroad  passes  centrally  through  it.  The  soil  of  the 
east  probably  partakes  more  of  the  character  given  to  Grant  and  Mad- 
7 


102  GEOLOGICAL    RECONNOISSANCE 

ison  by  the  Upper  Silurian  limestones,  while  in  the  west  it  may  readily 
have  been  modified  by  the  aluminous  shales  found  in  Clinton. 

Hamilton  derives  its  chief  characteristics  from  quaternary  deposits, 
although  the  silico-magnesian  limestones  frequently  come  close  to  the 
surface  between  Strawtown  and  Noblesville. 

The  upper  or  ashen  soil,  forming  the  eminences,  seems  thin,  and  re- 
quires subsoiling  and  admixture  with  the  red  ferruginous  clay  exhibited 
beneath,  whenever  a  natural  section  of  a  few  feet  occurs  by  deundation. 

On  a  creek  seven  miles  south  of  Noblesville,  where  drift  to  the  amount 
of  forty  feet  is  exposed,  we  obtained  the  following  section  : 

FEET. 

Ashen  soil 2 J- 

Reddish  clay. » 1J 

Hard-pan  and  cherty  gravel 10 

Very  ferruginous  and  stiff  clay .- 10 

Gravel,  hen  egg  size,  bowlders  and  sand — 15 

Among  the  bowlders  and  gravel  in  the  lowest  stratum,  granite,  gneiss, 
hornblende-rock,  greenstone,  silicious  limestone,  and  some  sandstone, 
were  observed.  The  sand  was  fine,  sharp  and  white. 

The  u  hard-pan"  was  made  up  of  angular  chert,  flint,  limestone  and 
sandstone  fragments  cemented  into  a  concrete  gravel  by  a  whitish  clay. 

The  upper  reddish  clay  kneads  into  a  paste,  and  breaks  when  dry  into 
small  square  pieces. 

The  white  or  ash-colored  soil,  although  rather  sandy,  yet  bakes  some- 
what in  the  sun ;  it  exhibits  a  few  angular  cherty  pebbles,  diffused 
through  it.  A  chalybeate  water  oozes  from  this  hill  side,  and  we  noticed 
among  the  timber  Beech,  Sugar  Tree,  Walnut,  Oak,  Buckeye,  and,  in 
the  undergrowth,  abundance  of  iron  weeds. 

On  the  21st  of  June,  when  passing  here,  corn  was  observed  more 
than  two  feet  high  in  the  red  clay  hollows,  when  it  scarcely  more  than 
showed  itself  on  some  of  the  light-colored  eminences.  In  some  places 
excellent  potato  crops  were  noticed ;  wheat  and  timothy  appeared  also 
tolerably  fair. 

Other  sections  near  here  presented  a  stratum  of  bowlders  immedi- 
ately beneath  the  reddish  clay  and  above  the  hard-pan  gravel. 

Five  miles  north-east  of  Noblesville,  the  county  seat,  near  the  mouth 
of  Deer  creek,  where  there  is  a  saw-mill,  an  extensive  quarry  has  been 
opened,  and  lime  is  burned.  A  rather  rapid  dip,  amounting  to  at  least 
30°,  is  well  exposed  here,  assuming  a  direction  rather  west  of  south. 


OF  INDIANA.  103 


Near  Strawtown,  Mr.  Guenther  is  successfully  manufacturing  pottery 
from  the  quaternary  ferruginous  clay  described  above. 

SHELBY  COUNTY. 

The  north-western  portion  of  this  county  receives  its  character  chiefly 
from  the  quaternary  deposits,,  with  proximity  in  places  of  the  black 
slate;  in  the  south-east,  the  silicious  limestones,  near  the  junction  of  the 
Upper  Silurian  with  the  Devonian,  are  reached  at  intervals  in  quarries, 
all  along  the  valley  of  Flat-Rock  ;  these,  in  conjunction  with  the  erratic 
group,  form  a  soil  of  fair  quality. 

Entering  the  county  at  the  thriving  town  of  Manilla,  we  observed,,  in 
traveling  (20th  Sept.)  south-west  to  Shelbyville,  good,  although  not 
large  farm-houses,  orchards,  wheat  chiefly  drilled,  fair  average  crops  of 
Indian  corn  and  sorghum ;  the  country  also  well  drained,  and  watered 
by  numerous  little  streams.  Accordiug  to  the  "  Table  of  Altitudes," 
Shelbyville  is  757  feet  above  high  tide.  South  of  Shelbyville,  we  ob- 
served large  fields  of  corn,  on  somewhat  flat,  clayey  soil,  occasionally 
varied  by  gravel  and  large  bowlders,  with  a  predominance  of  Beech  tim- 
ber. Yet  further  south,  the  soil  in  places  indicated  a  black,  sandy  loam, 
with  high  iron  weeds,  Beech  forest  not  so  exclusively  preponderating. 

The  silicious  limestone  in  the  bed  of  Flat  Rock  did  not  afford  many 
fossils,  nor  did  it  offer  as  fine  slabs  as  in  the  quarries  already  spoken  of 
near  the  junction  of  Shelby  with  Decatur  and  Rush,  where  stone  is 
worked  so  extensively.  The  best  are  said  to  be  on  Conn's  creek.  A 
southerly  dip  was  quite  perceptible  in  the  bed  of  Flat  Rock ;  at  an  old 
dam,  the  rocks  were  much  rippled,  marked  and  grooved  by  the  wearing 
effects  of  the  water  running  here  with  the  strike.  Immense  quantities 
of  chert  and  confervse  covered  some  portions. 

At  the  office  of  the  "Republican  Banner "  we  were  informed  that, 
about  2J  miles  south-east  of  Shelbyville,  'Squire  Allen  Sexson  has  an 
artesian  chalybeate  well:  this  is  almost  on  a  direct  prolongation  of  the 
~W".  S.  W.  line  of  artesian  chalybeates  described  as  being  found  in  Rush 
county.  A  natural  chalybeate  also  flows  out  below  Freeport,  in  Hano- 
ver township,  Shelby  county,  on  Big  Blue  river,  a  branch  of  White,  to 
be  distinguished  from  Great  Blue  river,  mentioned  hereafter  as  forming 
the  boundary  between  Harrison  and  Crawford  counties. 


104  GEOLOGICAL  RECONNOISSANCE 


BARTHOLOMEW    COUNTY. 

The  rich,  sandy  loam  of  southern  Shelby  county  continues  into  the 
northern  part  of  Bartholomew,  particularly  in  the  valley  of  Flat  Rock. 
The  uplands,  averaging  fifty  to  sixty  feet  higher  than  the  bottoms,  are 
generally  composed  of  from  twenty  to  thirty  feet  of  quaternary  gravel, 
with  bowlders,  overlaid  by  soil.  On  the  route  to  Columbus,  the  county 
seat,  we  observed  some  good  barns,  full  average  corn  crops,  and  luxu- 
riant clover — Beech  and  Poplar  timber  prevailing.  On  approaching 
Taylorsville,  leval  land,  heavy  timber,  small  swamp-muck  prairies,  ex- 
tensive fern  tracts,  in  which  Adiantum,  the  maidenhair  genus,  appeared 
most  abundant,  and  corduroy  roads  tried  our  springs,  all  pointed  out 
the  propriety  of  thorough  drainage.  These  appearances  are  readily  ex- 
plained when  near  by,  at  TannehilFs  mills,  on  the  east  fork  of  White 
river,  we  find  the  Devonian  black  slate,  and  learn  that  the  knob  sand- 
stone of  sub-carboniferous  date  is  encountered  five  miles  west. 

Other  fine  rich  bottoms  show  themselves  also  along  the  valley  of  Sugar 
creek,  in  this  county,  a  stream  not  to  be  confounded  with  the  Sugar 
creek  of  Fountain  county. 

Traveling  westward  towards  Brown  county,  and  ascending  about  360 
feet  above  the  water  level  at  the  Tannehill  White  River  Mills,  we  were 
shown  the  materials  passed  through  and  thrown  out  by  Mr.  Thomas 
Brown,  when  digging  a  well  at  this  elevation.  Atter  excavating  the 
yellowish  clay,  with  mingled  gravel,  a  bluish  clay  was  reached;  then, 
on  digging  with  difficulty  through  some  feet  of  "  hard  pan,"  water,  was 
obtained  in  the  gravel,  36  feet  below  the  surface.  In  "pockets"  above 
the  clay,  he  found  sand,  iron  particles  and  mica,  probably  the  detritus 
of  decomposed  bowlders.  On  the  highest  Bartholomew  ridge,  near 
Brown  county  line,  390  feet  above  White  River,  and  consequently  little 
short  of  a  thousand  feet  above  the  sea,  the  water  level  near  the  mouth 
of  Clifi'ty,  at  White  river,  being  596  above  tide,  the  Fall  grapes  were 
observed  growing  in  clustered  profusion,  on  the  gracefully  pendant  vines 
of  native,  unpruned  luxuriance;  promising  well  for  success  in  artificial 
cultivation,  under  judicious  selection  and  management. 

JACKSON  AND   SCOTT   COUNTIES. 

The  portion  of  this  county  of  which  we  saw  the  most  was  around 
Rockford,  (visited  by  us  partly  on  account  of  the  fine  fossils  obtained 

I 


OP  INDIANA.  105 


there  at  low  water,)  and  the  central  portion  presented  to  view  in  passing 
by  railroad,  chiefly  along  the  White  River  valley  from  Seymour,  through 
the  county  seat,  Brownstown,  and  past  Vallonia,  towards  the  knob  sand- 
stone near  the  junction  with  Lawrence  county. 

Unfortunately,  the  rivor  was  rather  high  for  our  purposes  at  the 
Rockford  dam;  however,  we  found,  in  thin  layers  of  an  aluminous 
limestone,  portions  of  fine  goniatites,  belonging  to  at  least  two  species, 
and  some  orthoceratites  were  presented  by  the  owners  of  the  mill.  One 
species  of  the  former  so  strongly  resembles  DeKoniuck's  Belgian  spe- 
-cies?  rotalorius,  as  probably  to  be  identical ;  and  the  other  seems  closely 
allied  to  the  G.  sinuosus  of  Hall.  The  best  orthoceras  is  provisionally 
assigned  to  the  laterals. 

The  true  hard,  bituminous  black  slate,  often  with  lingula  spatulata 
(Hall)  is  here  scattered  profusely  along  the  banks  of  the  Driftwood  fork 
of  White  river,  derived  chiefly  from  a  locality  about  four  miles  above, 
where  the  black  slate  constitutes  the  east  bank.  The  rock  used  at  the 
Rockford  mill  is  from  Silver  creek,  six  miles  north  of  JefFersonville. 

At  Seymour  they  employ  the  Yernon  stone,  having  no  rock  near  the 
surface :  the  water,  which  they  obtain  by  digging  wells,  being  almost 
soft,  probably  filters  through  the  fine  alluvial  sand,  interspersed  with 
some  gravel,  here  forming  the  adjacent  hills,  of  ten  to  twenty  feet,  and, 
after  such  filtration,  rests  on  the  knob  sandstone  beneath  ;  hence  the 
absence  of  calcareous  and  saline  impurities. 

Dr.  Monroe,  of  this  place,  informed  us  that  the  county  exports  chiefly 
corn  and  hogs,  Lawrenceburg  being  their  main  market.  Somewhat 
further  west,  towards  the  county  seat,  we  observed  (21st  JSIov.)  numer- 
ous straw  stacks,  and  a  considerable  amount  of  new  wheat,  that  prom- 
ised well,  of  cattle  and  pastures,  also  of  sheep  grazing  on  the  quaternary 
hills,  generally  from  25  to  50  feet  high,  and  at  places  even  75  or  100 
feet  above  the  railroad  level.  Beech  timber  predominated,  but  piles  of 
staves  and  hoop-poles  along  the  road  were  not  uncommon.  The  rich 
Beech,  Papaw  and  Iron  weed  land,  north  of  Langdon,  seemed  to  re- 
quire drainage. 

In  Scott  county  we  find  the  same  black  slate,  and  some  deposits  of 
marl.  From  the  heavily  timbered  lands  of  Austin,  so  low  as  occasion- 
ally to  permit  chill  and  fever  miasmata,  and  from  other  points  in  this 
county,  vast  quantities  of  staves  are  shipped. 

In  the  region  of  Vienna  the  Beech  land  is  higher,  as  we  pass  from 
the  Devonian  clay  shales  to  the  sub-carboniferous  or  knob  sandstone. 


106  GEOLOGICAL    KECONNOISSANCE 

Of  this  county,  however,  we  did  not  see  as  much  as  would  justify  a  de- 
tailed description.  It  ought,  therefore,  to  be  more  thoroughly  exam- 
ined hereafter. 

CLAKKE  COUNTY. 

As  we  near  the  northern  limit  of  this  county,  in  the  region  between 
Summit,  (the  ridge  dividing  the  Ohio  and  White  Iliver  tributaries,)  and 
Henryville,  Oak  and  Hickory  become  very  prevalent ;  but  farther  east, 
about  Utica  and  Charlestown,  Beech,  luxuriating  in  the  furruginous 
clays,  again  makes  its  appearance. 

A  cut  between  Memphis  arid  Sellersburgh,  and  various  places  on  Sil- 
ver Creek,  exhibit  the  same  bituminous,  aluminous  black  slate  seen  in 
Jackson  and  other  counties,  usually  assigned  to  the  Upper  Devonian, 
but  by  some  writers  placed  in  the  lowest  beds  of  the  carboniferous  sys- 
tem. 

About  Utica  large  quantities  of  lime  are  burned  from  Devonian 
rock,  in  beds  about  twenty  feet  thick,  with  fossils  only  in  the  lower 
layers ;  surmounted  by  ten  to  fifteen  feet  of  chert  and  reddish  clay.  As 
nearly  as  we  could  ascentain  they  ship  annually  from  this  place  100,000 
barrels  of  excellent  white  lime,  chiefly  burnt  in  fire  kilns,  some  of 
which  hold  350  barrels  and  are  charged  fifty  or  sixty  times  a  year. 

Near  Utica,  on  "  Clarke's  -Grant,"  No.  £6,  owned  by  Mr.  Jacob  Kud- 
dell,  a  Devonian  soil,  for  the  analysis  of  which  see  No.  10, 11  and  12  of 
Dr.  Peter's  report,  grows,  even  on  upland  after  thirty  years  cultivation, 
fifty  to  fifty-five  bushels  of  corn  and  twenty-five  of  wheat,  also  good 
clover  and  potatoes.  On  this  farm  we  found  abundant  samples  of  Lu- 
cina  proavia  and  other  Devonian  fossils.  The  timber  is  Sugar  Tree, 
Black  and  White  Walnut,  Elm,  Ash,  Buckeye  and  Cherry.  But  it  is 
chiefly  in  the  neighborhood  of  Charleston  that  the  splendid  and  mag- 
nificent coral  characteristic  of  this  age,  and  already  gracing  many  a 
European  cabinet,  are  found  in  profusion.  On  the  farm  of  Mr.  Frank 
Weller,  Clark's  Grant,  No.  26,  where  they  were  quarrying  rock  for  the 
turnpike,  we  obtained  samples  of  Zaphrentis  gigantea  two  feet  long, 
Cyathophyllum  rugosum,  Favosites  Basaltica,  (Gothlandica,)  F.  mam- 
millaris,  besides  many  others;  and,  on  the  road  from  here  to  Jefferson- 
ville,  Spirifer  cultrijugatus,  &c.  Along  the  entire  rapids  or  falls  of 
tbe  Ohio,  from  Jefferson  ville  to  New  Albany,  are  found  numerous  beau- 
tiful Devonian  fossils,  such  as  Syringopora  tabulata,  Favosites  mam- 
millaris,  Emmonsia  hemispherica.  Amplexus  yandelli,  Zaphrentis  cor- 


OP  INDIANA.  107 


nicula,  Z.  gigantea,  Olivanites  Verneuilli ;  beautiful  Bryozoa,  chiefly  of 
the  genus  fenestella;  trilobites,  as  Calymene  crassimarginata,  &c.,  &c. 

Associated  with  these  beds  is  the  stratum,  about  fourteen  feet  thick, 
from  which  the  celebrated  water  lime*  is  quarried  to  be  burnt,  barreled 
and  sold  as  "  hydraulic  cement."  Above  these  limestones  are  the  black 
slates,  which  at  places  near  New  Albany,  have  been  ascertained  by  Dr. 
Clapp  to  occupy  104  feet  in  thickness.  Prof.  J.  Lawrence  Smith  states 
that  in  boring  on  Main  street,  Louisville,  for  the  artesian  well  of  Messrs. 
DuPont,  they  passed  through  thirty-eight  feet  of  shell  limestone  and 
forty  feet  of  coralline  limestone,  both  of  Devonian  age,  before  reaching 
the  Upper  Silurian,  which  was  supposed  to  occupy  the  succeeding 
twelve  hundred  feet. 

Back  of  Jefferson ville  the  saline  chalybeate  spring,  already  spoken 
of  as  a  summer  resort,  afforded  on  qualitative  analysis : 

Bi  carbonate  of  the  protoxide  of  iron ; 

Bi  carbonate  of  lime ; 

Bi  carbonate  of  magnesia ; 

Chloride  of  sodium,  a  small  quantity ; 

Chloride  of  potassium,  a  trace ; 
Consequently  it  is  tonic,  slightly  aperient,  and  perhaps  alterative. 

At  New  "Washington  the  landlord  of  the  hotel  informed  us  he  struck 
the  black  slate  in  digging  his  well. 

Seven  miles  south  of  that  place,  on  descending  a  natural  cut,  we  ob- 
served about  thirty  feet  of  saccharoid  limestone,  over  thirty  to  thirty- 
five  feet  of  chert,  with  reddish  soil  and  Devonian  fossils,  then  eighty  to 
eighty-five  feet  of  silicious  limestone  beneath.  The  same  was  verified 
on  ascending  the  next  hill,  where  near  the  summit  we  found  beautiful 
Devonian  corals. 

On  approaching  the  Dean  Marble  Quarry,  at  the  eastern  edge  of 
Clark  county,  we  observed  near  Bethlehem  more  than  two  hundred  feet 
of  Lower  Silurian  formation,  overlaid  by  thirty  to  thirty-five  feet  of 
silico-calcareous  rock,  twenty  to  forty  of  Devonian  limestone,  and  fifteen 
to  twenty-five  feet  of  chert,  disintegrating  into  ferriginous  clay.  Here 
at  least  then,  the  Upper  Silurian  seems  to  have  thinned  out  consid- 
erably. 

*Dr.  Peter's  analysis  for  the  Kentucky  report  of  this  rock  will  be  found  in  the  appendix. 


108  GEOLOGICAL   RECONNOISSANCE 


SEC.  IV.—  COUNTIES  IN  THE  SUB-CARBONIFEROUS  SAND- 

STONE FORMATION. 

SUB-  SECTION  1.  —  GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  —  Some  English  writers  sub- 
divide the  carboniferous  system  in  ascending  into  the  Carboniferous  or 
Mountain  limestone  formation,  the  Millstone  Grit,  and  the  true  Coal 
Measures.  In  this  country,  in  consequence  of  there  being  a  considera- 
ble thickness  of  strata  beneath  the  productive  coal  seams,  or  carbon- 
bearing  beds,  some  Geologists  have  named  these  lower  strata  sub-car- 
boniferous; and  as  great  diversity  of  scenegraphic  and  agricultural 
character  exists  between  the  upper  and  lower  strata  of  this  formation, 
it  is  frequently  again  sub-divided  into  the  sub-carboniferous  or  knob 
sandstone,  and  the  overlying  sub-carboniferous  limestone,  or  cavernous 
limestone. 

As  this  latter  arrangement  seems  convenient  for  Indiana,  we  begin 
with  those  counties  in  which  the  prevailing  rock  is  a  series  of  sand- 
stones assuming  various  tints  of  yellow,  green  and  gray,  with  interven- 
ing shales.  Prof.  Hall  is  of  opinion  that  in  denominating  ro.cks  of 
this  lithological  character,  in  the  State  of  Ohio,  the  "  Waverly  Sand- 
stone," the  strata  were  not  always  carefully  distinguished  from  Devo- 
nian beds  of  the  Chemung  and  Portage  groups. 

The  following  counties  in  Indiana  are  considered  as  chiefly  charac- 
ized  by  the  sub-carboniferous  sandstone  and  shales  :  Tippecanoe,  Clin- 
ton, Boone,  Hendricks,  Johnson,  Morgan,  Brown,  Washington  and 
Floyd  counties. 

SUB-SECTION  2.  —  SOIL,  AGRICULTURAL  PRODUCTS,  &c.  —  The  soil  result- 
ing from  the  disintegration  of  sandstone,  and  somewhat  aluminous 
shales,  might  naturally  be  expected  to  be  rather  cold  where  the  shales 
predominated,  as  well  as  too  thin  and  light  where  the  detritus  of  the 
sandstone  was  the  chief  ingredient  of  the  soil.  This  is  undoubtedly  to 
some  extent  the  case,  but  generally  speaking  the  two  are  blended,  and 
sometimes  the  modifying  proximity  of  the  not-far  distant  limestone,  or 
the  natural  top-dressing  of  quaternary  deposits  bringing  clay,  gravel, 
decomposed  bowlders,  some  of  them  rich  in  magnesia,  lime,  the  alka- 
lies and  oxide  of  iron,  forms  a  varied  soil  well  adapted  for  most  agri- 
cultural purposes. 

Where  there  is  a  defect  in  the  soil  of  this  formation  an  artificial  top- 
dressing  of  lime  or  plaster  would  well  merit  a  trial,  which  at  first  may 
be  on  a  small  and  inexpensive  scale.  Tobacco  has  been  advantageously 


OF  INDIANA.  109 


raised  in  portions  of  this  formation ;  and,  on  the  high  knobs,  if  some 
laws  could  be  devised  for  the  protection  of  sheep,  laws*  equally  just  in 
their  bearing  on  the  sporting  "  Nimrods  "  who  love  pointer  and  setter, 
and  on  the  pastoral  "Abels  "  who  see  in  these  latter  only  the  sheep- 
killer,  then  we  may  hope  to  have  those  hills  covered  with  Southdowns 
and  Cotswolds,  furnishing  excellent  food  and  clothing  to  the  consumer, 
as  well  as  profit  to  the  farmer.  As  a  general  rule  small  grain  and  per- 
ennial grasses  would  return  a  better  remuneration  in  this  formation 
than  corn  or  clover ;  and  among  these  cereals,  where  there  is  a  market, 
barley  will  be  found  most  productive  in  a  sandy  soil.  Potatoes  too,  if 
light  showers  favor,  would  here  produce  abundantly. 

SUB- SECTION  3. — ROCK  QUARRIES,  &c. — It  is  rather  in  the  upper  lime- 
stones than  in  these  lower  sub-carboniferous  sandstones  that  we  should 
look  for  the  best  building  materials ;  still  we  saw  localities  where,  by 
judicious  selection,  they  had  quarried  out  good  rock  for  various  pur- 
poses. The  details  will  be  given  in  describing  the  separate  counties. 

Near  Bedford  they  claim  to  have  hydraulic  limestone,  and  in  some 
places  probably  also  grindstones  might  be  manufactured  ;  although 
those  brought  to  our  notice  were  higher  up  in  the  series,  among  the 
Millstone  Grits  and  true  Coal  Measures.  We  saw  no  marls  or  clays 
which  were  considered  commercially  important. 

SUB-SECTION  4. — METALLIC  ORES,  &c. — This  is  not  the  formation  in 
which  we  usually  find  extensive  metallic  deposits  in  situ;  but  as  will  be 
seen  in  the  detailed  description  of  counties,  iron  ore  was  found  in  Ma- 
rion, lead  in  Tippecanoe,  and  gold  has  been  extensively  washed  at  sev- 
eral places  from  the  drift  deposits  that  have  lodged  in  favorable  por- 
tions of  this  geological  rock  stratum,  where  hollows  had  formed,  wheth- 
er by  natural  ridging  from  the  dip  of  the  beds  or  more  usually  by  sub- 
sequent deundation  of  intercalated  strata,  less  hard  and  weather  proof 
than  the  purely  silicious  peaks. 

SUB-SECTION  5. — TIMBER  AND  PREDOMINANT  VEGETATION. — On  the 
higher  sandstone  knobs,  Oak,  Elm  and  Poplar  are  most  common ;  while 
occupying  less  elevated  or  more  clayey  portions,  we  still  see  Beech,  Su- 
gar Tree,  Black  Walnut  and  Ash.  In  yet  different  regions  of  this 
formation,  where  rich  quaternary  marls  and  other  deposits  have  con- 


*It  is  said  that  in  some  States  a  tax  has  been  levied  on  dogs,  (and  who  that  is  fond  of 
sporting  would  thus  begrudge  a  dollar  or  two  each  year,)  and  the  resulting  proceeds  from  a 
fund  for  the  repayment  of  losses  to  farmers  whose  sheep  have  been  killed  or  worried  by  dogs. 
The  plan  is  reported  to  work  well. 


HO  GEOLOGICAL   RECONNOISSANCE 

tributed  to  fertilize,  the  growth  of  timber  will  again  vary  from  the 
above ;  indeed  the  flora  of  the  sub-carboniferous  soils  is  exceedingly 
various,  comprising  in  parts  the  plants  that  love  to  revel  in  cold,  wet, 
aluminous  plains  of  our  latitude,  in  part  those  whose  habitat  inclines 
to  high,  dry  and  arenaceous  ridges.  Some  of  the  latter,  as  will  be  seen 
in  the  detailed  description,  rise  abruptly  three  hundred  and  fifty  feet, 
in  places  even  four  hundred  feet,  above  the  small  streams  which  form 
the  valleys  of  drainage  for  the  country. 

SUB-SECTION  6. — SPRINGS,  &c. — Except  on  the  above  high  and  dry 
ridges,  springs  and  well  water  are  sufficiently  abundant  throughout  this 
formation  for  all  practical  purposes,  and  are  usually  less  apt  to  be  hard 
than  in  most  other  formations,  where  calcareous  beds  generally  form  at 
least  one  layer  in  the  stratigraphical  series  constituting  the  system  or 
formation. 

It  is  only  on  the  westerly  boundary  of  this  geological  zone  that  we 
find  the  overlying  limestones  again  charging  the  waters  of  filtration 
with  the  soluble  alkaline  earths. 

SUB-SECTION  7. — MISCELLANEOUS  FACTS. — From  the  facts  above  ad- 
duced of  the  varying  physical  geography  and  development  of  vegeta- 
ble life,  we  are  naturally  led  to  expect  a  variety  in  the  climatal  and 
pathological  results.  In  this  we  are  not  deceived,  for  the  diseases  inci- 
dent to  the  undrained  flats  are  usually  more  bilious  and  remittent  in 
type,  while  on  the  dry  ridge,  dysenteric  epidemics  are  more  common. 
Pneumonia  and  typhoid  are  perhaps  scarcely  bounded  by  geographical 
areas  or  subject  to  restrictive  lines  of  altitude. 

SUB-SECTION  8. — FOSSILS  CHARACTERISTIC  OF  THIS  FORMATION.— Pale- 
ontologists have  long  observed  that  during  the  progress  of  the  earth's 
history  and  modification,  whenever  the  chief  deposits,  washing  from 
the  higher  portions  of  land  to  raise  the  lower  grounds,  whether  dry  or 
under  the  bed  of  the  ocean,  partake  of  the  character  usually  assigna- 
ble to  arenaceous  deposits,  that  of  loose  drifting  sands,  organic  remains 
in  these  are  comparatively  rare.  It  seems  to  require  something  more 
coherent  in  the  form  of  aluminous,  silicious  or  calcareous  particles, 
oozings  of  peroxide  of  iron  or  some  other  soluble  metallic  oxides,  or 
sometimes  a  salt,  to  imbed  or  surround  the  delicate  organism  with  such 
a  nidus  as  shall,  by  a  chemico-geological  metastasis,  replace  organic 
matter  by  its  less  perishable  organic  representative.  This  applies  to 
the"  Knob-sandstone,  for  the  fossils  found  in  it  are  rare ;  and,  as  they 
are  chiefly,  generically  and  specifically  the  same  as  those  in  the  superin- 

4 


OF  INDIANA.  Ill 


cumbent  limestone,  also  of  sub-carboniferous  age,  will  be  described  un- 
der that  head. 

SUB-SECTION  9. — COUNTIES  IN  THE  KNOB-SANDSTONE: — 

TIPPECANOE  COUNTY. 

In  the  north-eastern  portion  of  this  county  we  encounter  the  Devo- 
nian, black,  aluminous,  bituminous  shales,  and  a  few  miles  further  east 
find  them,  and  thin  Devonian  limestones,  reposing  on  the  Pentamerus 
limestones  of  Upper  Silurian.  In  the  south-west,  a  short  distance  from 
the  county  line,  we  meet  with  the  sub-carboniferous  limestones,  which 
overlie  the  sub-carboniferous  sandstones;  and  near  the  western  junc- 
tion with  Warren  county  the  Millstone  Grit  and  true  Coal  Measures 
show  themselves. 

From  these  facts,  although  the  greater  portion  of  the  county  is  cov- 
ered with  quaternary  deposits,  forming  the  beautiful  Wea  prairie,  and 
stretching  to  the  celebrated  "  battle  ground,"  we  feel  justified  in  assign- 
ing the  sub-strata  of  Tippecanoe  mainly  to  the  Knob-sandstone  sub- 
division. 

As,  however,  we  found  these  drift  deposits  in  many  places  over  a 
hundred  feet  thick,  and  as,  in  boring  the  Lafayette  Artesian  Well,  they 
passed  through  170  feet  of  superficial  deposits,  including  the  bowlders, 
before  reaching  the  black  shales,  we  may  readily  imagine  that  the  soil 
of  Tippecanoe  county  chiefly  derives  its  character  from  this  geological 
deposit.  The  great  valley  of  the  Wabash  has  denuded  the  lighter  por- 
tions of  these  older  quaternary  deposits,  exposing  long  lines  of  the 
heavier  bowlders,  especially  between  Lafayette  and  Americus,  and  has 
replaced  the  older  by  newer  alluvial  quaternary,  thus  still  further  modi- 
fying the  soils  of  the  Wabash  bottom,  and  rendering  them  more  sandy 
than  the  general  level  of  the  older  quaternary  prairie  soil,  from  120  to 
150  feet  above  low  water  in  the  Wabash  at  the  Lafayette  bridge. 
These  bottoms,  here  as  elsewhere,  sustain  their  high  character  for  large 
crops  of  maize,  while  the  uplands  are  well  adapted  for  cereals  and 
grasses.  The  upper  portions  of  these  drift  deposits  are  frequently  loose 
sand  and  gravel,  intermingled  with  decomposing  bowlders,  crumbling 
oxides,  and  other  detritus,  that  furnish  some  calcareous  and  ferruginous 
matter.  This,  washed  by  the  filtering  rain  water  down  to  the  impervi- 
ous quaternary  clays  and  gravels,  is  then  arrested,  and  serves  to  cement 
them  into  a  hard,  pebbly  conglomerate,  not  unlike  the  artificial  concrete 


112  GEOLOGICAL  RECONNOISSANCE 

of  civil  engineers,  although  with  component  fragments  more  rounded 
by  previous  attrition. 

About  three-quarters  of  a  mile  east  of  the  Lafayette  Court  House,  on 
Mr.  L.  B.  Stockton's  farm,  also  at  another  point,  southerly  from  town, 
in  Taylor's  hollow,  Rochester's  addition,  we  saw  fine  sections  of  this  de- 
unded  Drift  conglomerate.  In  company  with  Mr.  "Wagner,  President 
of  the  State  Board,  we  traced,  under  the  great  advantage  of  his  thor- 
ough acquaintance  with  the  country,  the  same  line  of  exposure  at  vari- 
ous localities,  going  out  to  Warren  county,  particularly  six  miles  west 
of  town,  about  high  water  mark,  the  other  at  the  mouth  of  Indian 
creek,  near  the  western  limit  of  the  county. 

In  the  above  hills  near  Lafayette,  the  hard  conglomerate  has  again 
partially  disintegrated  in  places,  leaving  rude  columns  supporting  a  roof 
of  concrete,  with  ample  cavities  below,  giving  to  the  whole  at  some  dis- 
tance a  picturesque  effect,  not  unlike  the  representations  of  the  ancient 
Druidical  temples  of  our  British  ancestors,  during  their  early  savage 
life* 

In  one  of  the  hollows  bearing  north,  near  Indian  creek,  we  were  told 
that  extensive  deposits  of  lead  ore  had  been  found;  but,  as  usual  with 
these  discoveries,  the  finders  threw  a  mystery  around  the  description  of 
the  exact  locality,  which  precluded  the  probability  of  finding  it  readily, 
and  prevented  any  extended  search  at  that  time. 

The  celebrated  Artesian  Well  at  LaFayette,  (bored  by  Mr.  McKay, 
the  water  analyzed  and  full  details  of  the  whole  work  ably  given  by  Dr. 
Chas.  M.  Wetherill,)  shows  that  the  head  waters  are  derived  probably 
from  the  Upper  Silurian  rocks,  extending  from  Huntington  to  Delphi, 
and  then  dipping  under  the  black  slates.  The  tubing  passed  through 
170  feet  of  Quaternary,  then  nearly  30  feet  of  Devonian  shales,  and  lastly 
more  than  30  feet  of  Devonian  coralliferous  limestones. 

The  water  of  this  artesian  well  resembles  that  of  the  Blue  Licks, 
Kentucky,  and  may  be  used  either  for  beverage  or  bath,  in  various 
chronic  diseases.  It  is  reported  as  beneficial  in  many  cases  of  chronic 
rheumatism,  some  forms  of  dyspepsia,  scrofula,  &c. 

It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  add,  that,  in  the  large  and  prosperous  city 
of  LaFayette,  every  accommodation  can  be  furnished  to  invalids  visit- 
ing this  Artesian  well  for  health  or  pleasure. 

*A  sketch  of  this  locality  was  made,  in  case  it  should  be  called  for  as  illustrative  of  qua- 
ternary conglomerate  beds,  but  is  omitted,  as  well  as  other  illustrations,  in  consequence  of 
the  engraver  and  writer  both  having  entered  the  army  before  fully  completing  the  work. 


OF   INDIANA.  113 


CLIFTON  AND  BOONE  COUNTIES. 

As  a  calcareo-aluminous  rock  (becoming  sometimes  silicious,  and  even 
passing  occasionally  into  Lydian  stone,  a  dark,  banded  quartz)  destitute 
of  fossils,  shows  itself  on  Sugar  creek,  about  15  miles  south-west  from 
Frankfort,  the  county  seat  of  Clinton,  this  sub-carboniferous  substratum 
probably  underlies  the  western  portion  both  of  this  county  and  of  Boone, 
at  no  great  distance  from  the  general  level.  Aluminous  shales,  how- 
ever, show  themselves  on  Prairie  creek,  near  Frankfort,  and,  the  black 
bituminous  shales  of  Devonian  age  being  abundant  at  Americus  and 
Delphi,  the  eastern  parts  of  Clinton  and  Boone  are  probably  underlaid 
by  similar  strata.  Still,  the  chief  character  of  the  soil  is  derived  from 
the  Drift,  which  averages  about  60  feet  on  the  western  limit  of  Clinton 
county,  near  Colfax  or  Midway.  Although  in  portions  of  Clinton  the 
soil  is  white,  with  a  substratum  of  gravel  and  bowlders,  and  a  growth 
of  hazel,  yet  in  others  there  are  miles  of  stiff  quaternary  clay,  requiring 
drainage,  and  affording  abundance  of  elder  bushes  and  boneset,  with 
rank  ferns,  particularly  near  the  edge  of  Twelve-mile  prairie.  The 
crops  of  corn  and  clover  appeared,  however,  excellent,  and  orchards 
were  not  unfrequent. 

At  Frankfort,  Mr.  J.  N.  Simms,  in  having  a  well  dug,  on  the  general 
level,  after  passing  through  8J  feet  of  soil  and  subsoil,  penetrated  28 
feet  of  blue  clay  and  reached  a  quicksand,  through  which  the  water 
rapidly  rose  until  it  stood  20  feet  deep.  Following  the  creek  up  a  short 
distance  from  town,  we  found,  near  its  bed,  several  feet  of  stratified 
bluish  aluminous  shales,  covered  by  drift,  from  which  iron  ore  is  ob- 
tained, and  in  which  they  claim  to  have  Cobalt.  This  merits  thorough 
chemical  examination. 

In  the  northern  portion  of  the  county,  on  the  middle  fork  of  "  Wild 
Cat,"  iron  ore  is  yet  more  abundant ;  and  at  the  Maxwell  mill,  now 
owned  by  Mr.  Kemp,  there  is  a  strong  chalybeate  spring,  and  bog  irDn 
is  found.  Also  at  Grey's  mill,  on  the  south  branch  of  "  Wild  Cat,"  the 
water  is  strongly  impregnated  with  iron,  and  heavy  ferruginous  depos- 
its show  themselves. 

Accompanied  by  the  editors  and  several  other  gentlemen  from  Frank- 
fort, we  visited  the  gold  locality  on  the  Kilmore  branch,  which  heads 
on  Indian  prairie  and  runs|into  the  south  fork  of  "Wild  Cat."  We 
found  it,  as  expected,  in  a  pocket  of  Drift ;  and  partly  from  the  yellow 
and  blue  clay  in  the  bank,  a  foot  or  two  above  the  stream,  and  partly 


114  GEOLOGICAL    RECONNOISSANCE 

from  the  later  quaternary  arenaceous  deposits  in  its  beds,  one  of  our 
party,  who  had  washed  gold  in  California,  and  another,  who  had  worked 
at  the  Pike's  Peak  "  Diggings,"  panned  out  several  fragments  of  pure 
gold,  chiefly  in  flat  scales.  When  the  matrix  is  not  near,  and  the  deposit 
solely  in  drifted  materials,  the  question  of  its  profitable  yield  could  best 
be  answered  by  frequent  washings,  in  portions  somewhat  distant,  com- 
bined with  the  tracing  up  of  the  Drift  lor  some  miles,  and  an  inspection 
of  the  prevalent  character  in  the  accompanying  bowlders.  This  sub- 
ject will  be  again  discussed  in  connection  with  Carroll,  Bartholomew 
and  Brown  counties ;  gold  was  also  found,  as  before  remarked,  in  the 
Drift  of  Henry  county. 

Some  cases  of  milk-sickness  were  reported  as  occasionally  occurring 
on  the  Seminary  land. 

In  the  south-west  portio-n  of  Boone  county  we  found  the  land  new 
and  rich,  in  places  rather  wet,  the  junction  of  sub-carboniferous  sand- 
stone and  limestone  being  near  by  in  Montgomery  county ;  the  timber 
near  Zionsville  is  good,  chiefly  Oak,  Beech,  Walnut,  Sycamore,  with 
Sugar  Tree,  Elm  and  Hickory;  other  parts  afforded  a  light-colored 
sandy  loam,  with  good  meadows  of  red-top. 

Among  several  flocks  of  sheep  we  observed  some  fine  Merinoes  ;  the 
horses  and  cattle  also  seemed  of  an  improved  breed. 

Among  the  bowlders  of  the  Drift,  in  this  county,  were  noticed  fel- 
spathic  granite,  syenitic  granite,  and  gneissoid  granite;  greenstone, 
quartz-rock,  metamorphosed  sandstone,  and  one  of  limestone.  One 
granite  bowlder  here  must  have  weighed  at  least  half  a  ton. 

On  some  of  the  waters  of  the  Big  Racoon,  small  unios  are  found 
with  numerous  shells  of  the  genus  clyclas  and  melania;  on  another 
creek  the  genera  physa  and  planorbis  were  more  abundant.  Corduroy 
roads,  dog  fennel,  (Matricaria  foetida,)  smart  weed,  (Polygonum  hydro- 
piper,)  and  elder,  showed  the  necessity  in  some  places  of  attention  to 
drainage. 

MARION  COUNTY. 

This  fine  and  flourishing  county  in  which  our  State  Capital  is  situa- 
ted constitutes  a  geographic  midway,  a  central  heart,  whence  radiate 
the  great  iron  roads  serving  to  keep  up  the  product- circulation  and 
harmonious  intercourse,  which  should  exist  between  the  capital  of  a 
great  State  arid  its  more  distant  members.  The  geological  formation  of 
Marion  county  corresponds  to  her  functions  and  her  mission.  Based 


OF   INDIANA.  115 


on  sub- carboniferous  rocks,  with  Devonian  at  no  great  distance,  these 
solid  foundations  are  yet  so  covered  up  by  a  varied  Drift,  disintegrating 
into  a  rich  soil,  that  Marion  county  is  like  the  central  heart  to  which 
we  have  likened  her,  dependent  in  a  great  measure  upon  the  counties 
around  her  for  the  nutritive  supplies  of  raw  material,  brought  on  her 
anastomosing  circulatory  system  of  railroads  to  be  elaborated  and  dis- 
tributed on  the  iron  arteries  of  the  same  diffusive  civilizers,  to  the  ut- 
most limits  of  the  State.  Bounded  on  the  north  and  north-east  by  a 
great  chain  of  fresh- wrater  lakes,  communicating  with  the  Atlantic  sea- 
board, on  the  south  and  west  by  extensive  navigable  streams,  which  de- 
bouche  into  others  that  terminate  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  Indiana  thus 
forms  no  inconsiderable  part  in  the  great  nucleus  of  a  rich  and  power- 
ful Republic. 

The  principal  staples  of  Marion  county,  as  Mr.  Vinton,  formerly 
member  of  the  State  Board  for  that  district,  reports,  and  our  observa- 
tions confirmed,  "are  wheat,  corn,  rye,  oats,  barley  and  potatoes;  of 
stock,  horses,  cattle,  hogs,  mules  and  sheep."  Iron,  building  rock  and 
lime  have  to  be  brought  frcm  adjoining  counties;  but  potters'  clay,  he 
says,  is  abundant  in  Marion.  The  timber  is  chiefly  Oak,  Walnut,  Ash, 
Sugar  Tree  and  Beech.  They  have  no  milk-sickness  and  but  little  po- 
tatoe-rot;  hog  cholera  prevailed  in  1857-8;  latterly,  however,  very  lit- 
tle. Mr.  Vinton  adds :  "  Chinch  bugs,"  (Lygseus  leucopteris  of  Say,) 
"potato  bugs,"  (Cantheris  vittata,)  "weevil,"  (perhaps  the  beau -weevil 
or  Ithycerus  Noveboracensis  of  Schcenherr,  also  probably  the  plum- 
weevil  or  Conotrachelus  nenuphar  of  Herbst,)  "and  orchard-worm" 
(presumed  to  be  the  Saperda  Candida  of  Fab.,  the  S.  bivittata  of  Say,) 
"  are  standing  pests."  *..*•.*•.  M  The  prevailing  diseases  are  of  a  ma- 
larious character." 

While  experiencing  the  hospitality  of  the  present  member  for  this 
District,  Mr.  Loomis,  we  arranged  many  specimens  in  the  State,  others 
remaining  to  be  deposited  after  serving  for  description.  Many  bowl- 
ders found  in  Marion  are  placed  in  the  Quaternary  Department,  to  show 
the  characters  of  the  Drift;  a  special  belt  or  ridge,  hereafter  described, 
passing  close  to  Indianapolis. 

We  also  took  occasion  to  examine  the  admirably  arranged  Rolling- 
Mill  of  this  city,  fitted  up  at  a  great  expense  with  the  latest  improve- 
ments and  appliances,  which  promises  ultimately  to  be  successful 
and  eminently  useful.  The  energy  and  enterprise  of  the  citizens  in  In- 
dianapolis have  likewise  established  various  other  important  works,  such 
as  foundries,  machine  shops,  woolen  factories,  dye-houses,  with  many 


116  GEOLOGICAL   RECONNOISSANO/E 

manufactories,  wholesale  houses  for  the  sale  of  goods,  &c.,  &c.,  worthy 
of  the  rank  which  the  city  now  holds,  that  of  the  most  populous  in  the 
State. 

The  fine  public  buildings,  (such  as  the  Asylums  for  the  Insane,  Blind, 
and  Deaf-Mutes,)  in  and  near  the  city  are  well  worthy  of  a  visit;  and 
the  State  Fair  Grounds,  as  well  as  the  flourishing  nurseries  in  the  vi- 
cinity, show  that  the  agricultural  interests  are  duly  regarded. 

HENDRICKS  AND  JOHNSON  COUNTIES. 

Of  Ilendricks  county  we  saw  chiefly  the  north-eastern  part,  in  pas- 
sing from  Indianapolis  to  Crawfordsville.  Although  probably  the 
rocky  substratum  is  in  this  county  chiefly  sub-carboniferous  sandstone, 
judging  fronTrock  in  the  railroad  cuts  seen  when  passing  on  the  cars 
between  Fillmore  and  Crittenden,  as  well  as  from  the  section  obtained 
on  Big  Raccoon,  near  Ladoga,  in  the  adjoining  part  of  Montgomery, 
yet  here  also  the  Drift,  being  heavy,  gives  the  chief  character  to  the 
soil. 

Several  quaternary  ridges,  sometimes  of  sand,  at  others  of  gravel  and 
bowlders,  having  rather  a  north  and  south  direction,  were  noticed. 
The  bowlders  seen  were  of  granite,  gneiss,  hornblende  rock  and  quartz 
rock.  Near  New  Elizabethtown  the  general  level  of  the  country  is 
from  a  hundred  and  fifty  to  a  hundred  and  seventy -five  feet  higher  than 
at  Indianapolis,  and  the  Danville  Court  House  is  two  hundred  and  for- 
ty-five feet  higher  than  the  beds  of  the  canal  at  Indianapolis,  conse- 
quently nine  hundred  and  forty-three  feet  above  the  sea.  Although  the 
land  is  newly  opened  in  parts  of  the  county,  the  houses  and  barns  are 
already  abundant,  and  of  substantial  character ;  on  the  8th  and  9th  of 
June,  when  we  passed  through  the  county,  corn,  wheat  and  clover  crops 
were  all  very  promising.  Near  the  edge  of  Boone  county,  on  the  head 
water  of  Eel  river,  not  far  from  Jamestown,  the  land  is  new  and  rich, 
but  being  level  requires  drainage.  The  timber  noticed  was  Oak,  Beech, 
Walnut  and  Sycamore. 

Through  the  Assistant,  Mr.  Patterson,  a  sample  of  a  rather  rich  iron 
ore  was  sent  for  analysis;  it  is  from  the  west  fork  of  White  Lick,  near 
Townsend's  Mill,  two  miles  from  Cartersburgh,  Hendricks  county.  In 
the  south-east  part  of  Johnson  county,  on  Sugar  Creek,  bog  iron  ore 
has  been  found  to  some  extent.  The  south-western  part  of  Johnson 
county  exhibits  the  Knob-sandstone,  but  the  eastern  is  probably  under- 
laid by  Devonian  black  slates,  as  these  show  themselves  in  Bartholomew 


OF  INDIANA. 


county,  at  Tannehill's  Mills,  on  Sugar  creek,  about  three  miles  south 
of  the  south-eastern  limits  of  Johnson  county ;  consequently  this  coun- 
ty might,  with  almost  equal  propriety,  have  been  described  among  the 
Devonian  counties.  Its  chief  agricultural  characteristics  of  soil  are 
still,  as  in  Hendricks,  due  to  from  forty  to  sixty  feet  in  thickness  of  the 
drifted  quaternary  materials. 

Passing  from  Marion  into  Johnson  county,  on  the  dividing  lands  be- 
tween the  two  branches  of  White  river,  the  northern  portion  of  the 
county,  about  Greenwood,  exhibited  a  yellow  clay  soil,  strongly  im- 
pregnated with  yellow  ochre.  One  drift  bank  in  that  region  furnished 
the  following  section,  descending  through  thirty  feet :  Soil  fine  gravel, 
yellow  and  red  clays,  coarse  gravel  and  bowlders,  and  hard-pan.  We 
then  passed  a  soil  somewhat  wet,  as  indicated  by  the  corduroy  roads ; 
but  the  crops  were  fair  and  the  buildings  good. 

Around  Franklin,  the  county  town,  the  clay  is  usually  reddish,  and 
there  is  fine  level  Beech  and  Sugar  Tree  land  extending  towards  Edin- 
burgh, with  handsome  corn,  grass  and  wheat  fields. 

As  we  go  south  towards  Williamsburgh  we  descend  seventy  or 
eighty  feet  below  the  general  level  of  Marion  county,  over  reddish  clay 
and  gravel,  to  the  level  of  large  granitic  bowlders,  and  finally  reach 
the  Knob-sandstone,  about  the  edge  of  Brown,  with  a  prevalence  of 
White  Poplar,  (Liriodendron  tulipifera,)  and  of  a  close  grained  variety 
here  called  Hickory  Poplar. 

MORGAN  AND  BROWN  COUNTIES. 

On  Bean  Blossom,  nine  or  ten  miles  south-west  of  Martinsville,  the 
junction  of  the  sub-carboniferous  limestone  with  the  Knob-sandstone  is 
seen  for  the  last  time,  when  traveling  north-east  against  the  dip.  At 
that  point  the  sub-carboniferous  sandstone  has  a  thickness  of  230  to 
250  feet,  capped  by  a  few  feet  of  geodiferous  limestone. 

On  the  bluffs  of  the  west  fork  of  White  River,  near  the  junction  of 
Morgan  and  Johnson  counties,  at  a  locality  which,  in  1819,  (when  the 
site  of  our  State  Capital  was  under  consideration,)  competed  favorably 
in  the  minds  of  some  of  the  commissioners  for  selection,  the  sub-carbonif- 
erous sandstone  forms  an  escarpment  on  the  river  bank  of  25  to  30  feet, 
being  close-grained  and  aluminous.  To  this  succeed  shales  with  a  foot 
or  two  of  hard-pan,  and  60  to  70  feet  of  quaternary  conglomerate,  which 
in  weathering  has  become  detached  and  precipitated  in  huge  masses  to 

the  foot  of  the  bluff.      Surmounting  this  conglomerate  are  quaternary 
8 


118  GEOLOGICAL    RECONNOISSANCE 

hills,  with  a  soil  of  black  alluvium,  giving  root  to  a  vigorous  and  varied 
growth  of  fine  timber,  as  Buckeye,  Blue  Ash,  Black  and  White  Wal- 
nut, Hickory,  Hackberry,  &c.  The  above  beautiful  woodlands,  with 
some  adjoining  farms,  are  now  owned  by  Mr.  Calvin  Fletcher,  Jun.,  of 
Indianapolis,  and  it  was  in  company  with  him  and  Indiana's  historian, 
Mr.  Dillon,  that  I  had  the  pleasure  of  examining  these  details.  Some 
seven  or  eight  miles  north  of  this,  near  the  edge  of  Marion,  a  sand 
ridge  furnishes  Tulip  Tree,  Red  Oak,  Beech  and  Sugar  Tree.  Part  of 
the  north-east  corner  of  Morgan  county  may  be  underlaid  by  the  De- 
venian  black  slate,  but  as  yet  we  have  failed  to  discover  any,  nearer 
than  on  Sugar  creek,  Bartholomew  county. 

Brown  county  is  almost  exclusively  made  up  of  a  succession  of  hills, 
sometimes  3QO  to  400  feet  above  the  water  courses,  composed  of  the 
sub-carboniferous  sandstone,  with  heavy  quaternary  deposits,  filling 
portions  of  the  valleys  but  seldom  found  near  the  tops  of  the  higher 
hills.  On  the  dividing  ridge  between  Bean  Blossom  and  Salt  Creek 
fruit  thrives  well,  much  better  than  on  either  of  the  slopes.  There  were 
also  some  good  tobacco  crops  in  fields  recently  cleared,  and  we  observed 
luxuriant  clusters  of  wild  grapes  among  the  ridge  timber  of  Oak, 
Chestnut-Oak,  Sassafras,  Chestnut  and  Sumach,  on  the  high  and  dry 
ferruginous  sandstone  knobs.  On  these  there  is  often  difficulty  in  ob- 
taining water,  as  the  materials  are  too  porous  to  retain  the  filtering  rain 
water.  Lower  down  occasional  layers  of  clay  and  disintegrated  shales, 
somewhat  aluminous  in  character,  afford  a  sufficiently  retentive  sub- 
stratum. Thus,  near  the  edge  of  Brown  and  Bartholomew,  at  Mr. 
Thos.  Brown's,  about  350  feet  above  the  water  level  in  the  east  branch 
of  White  Elver,  at  Tannehill's  Mills,  water  was  obtained  in  gravel  36 
feet  below  the  surface,  doubtless  resting  on  clay,  as  they  passed  through 
several  beds  of  yellowish  gravelly  clay  and  bluish  hard-pan,  with  pock- 
ets of  micaceous  iron-sand.  The  inhabitants  of  Nashville,  the  county 
town,  report  considerable  indications  of  iron  ore;  and  native  copper 
was  found  with  gold  near  Spearsville. 

The  crops  are  better  than  might  be  anticipated,  particularly  in  wet 
seasons.  Wheat  is  said  to  produce  twelve  bushels  to  the  acre.  Seve- 
ral promising  vineyards  and  some  tanyards  were  observed  near  Nash- 
ville. These  ridges  seem  well  adapted  for  grazing  sheep  and  goats,  as 
well  as  for  the  growth  of  the  vine  and  some  species  of  fruit  trees. 

In  the  valleys  Buckeye  flourishes  and  a  vast  extent  of  ground  is 
sometimes  covered  by  the  polypody,  the  Flowering  Fern,  (Osmunda,) 
and  other  rankly  luxuriant  ferns,  which  seem  to  delight  in  the  cold  and 


OF   INDIANA.  119 


moist  soils  resulting  from  the  disintegration  of  the  silico-aluminoiis 
shales  prevalent  in  these  lower  members  of  the  sub-carboniferous  sand- 
stone. 

But  the  chief  interest  of  Brown  county  attaches  to  its  Gold  region, 
which,  under  the  polite  guidance  of  Mr.  Benajah  Johnson,  Postmaster 
at  Taylorsville,  Bartholomew,  county,  we  were  enabled  to  examine  ad- 
vantageously. 

Although  some  "prospecting"  has  been  done  on  Bear-Wallow  Hill, 
on  head  waters  communicating  through  Lick  creek  to  Salt  creek,  as 
also  in  what  they  term  the  gravel  of  Greasy  creek,  a  deposit  of  disin- 
tegrated shales,  the  main  localities  in  which  success  has  attended  the 
washings  in  this  county  are  on  Hamlin'sfork  of  Salt  creek,  three-quar- 
ters of  a  mile  in  a  direct  line  from  the  west  limit  of  Bartholomew,  near 
Mt.  Moriah  P.  0. 

Here  we  found  extensive  preparations  in  the  way  of  sluices  and  hose, 
rockers  and  "Long  Toms,"  picks  and  shovels,  &c.  Notwithstanding 
the  rain,  we  panned  out  enough  to  convince  ourselves  that  the  black 
sand  in  many  of  the  pockets  contains  a  considerable  amount  of  gold 
particles. 

Occasionally  they  pan  out  flat  scales  worth  from  a  dollar  to  a  dollar 
and  a  quarter.  The  chief  question  therefore  to  be  determined,  in  order 
to  judge  of  the  ultimate  profit,  is  how  extensive  the  deposits  arc  likely 
to  prove.  Judging  from  what  I  saw  here  and  elsewhere  in  Indiana  of 
the  gold  localities,  I  should  venture  the  opinion  that  the  gold  is  inva- 
riably associated  with  drifted  quaternary  materials,  derived  from  a  ma 
trix,  which  finds  its  mountain  home,  at  least  from  four  to  six  hundred 
miles  distant,  and  more  probably  double  that  distance,  in  a  northerly  di- 
rection. 

The  reason  of  its  arrest  chiefly  here  is  obvious,  when  we  observe  that 
the  streams,  from  which  the  inhabitants  wash  gold,  head  about  two 
miles  north,  in  a  great  ridge  running  somewhat  e;*st  and  west,  the  sum- 
mit of  which  is  only  a  mile  further  north.  All  south  of  this,  embra- 
cing such  counties  as  Lawrence,  Orange,  OrawK.nl  and  Perry,  is  broken 
by  hills  and  hollows  of  considerable  abruptness  and  difference  in  level, 
whereas  from  the  summit  of  the  above  described  ridge  north,  a  little 
west,  through  Johnson.  Marion,  Boone,  Carroll,  White,  Jasper  and 
Porter  to  Lake  Michigan,  there  is  little  (except  a  few  valleys  of  deun- 
dation,  where  White  river,  the  Wabash  or  Tippecanoe  have  channeled 
their  beds,)  to  break  the  evenness  of  the  great  northern  Drift  which  an 
earlier  Quaternary  age  strewed  all  over  the  northern  counties  of  our 


120  GEOLOGICAL  RECONNOISSANCE 


State,  and  extended  into  the  lower  grounds  of  our  more  southern  coun- 
ties sometimes  as  far'as  the  Ohio  river.  This  Drift  appears  not  to  have 
reached  the  highest  elevations  of  Brown  county ;  at  least  by  our  baro- 
nutrical  observations,  no  quaternary  deposits  rested  in  these  gold-dig- 
gings more  than  two  hundred  feet  above  Sugar  creek,  whereas  some 
points  in  Brown  attain  an  elevation  of  four  hundred  feet  above  the 
water-courses,  or  about  1,000  feet  above  the  sea,  as  Flat  Rock,  which 
empties  into  White  river  a  few  miles  below  Tannehill's  Mills,  is  given 
by  Messrs.  Stansbury  and  Williams  as  602  feet  above  high  tide. 

Another  interesting  fact,  noticed  here,  and  no  where  else,  was  that 
two-thirds  of  the  .numerous  bowlders,  seen  around  the  gold-wsahings, 
were  quartz-rock;  the  others  were  chiefly  granitic. 

There  seemed  considerable  local  dip,  in  the  sub-carboniferous  shales 
here,  from  7°  to  12°  in  a  south-west  direction ;  one  section  gave  an  an- 
ticlinal slope  of  45°  north-east  and  south-west.  About  fifteen  feet  of 
aluminous  shales,  here  over  the  more  solid  greenish  sandstone,  have 
decomposed  into  a  blue  clay,  very  similar  to  that  in  the  bed  of  Lako 
Michigan.  Septaria,  with  indications  of  iron,  were  numerous  in  the 
aluminous  shales.  From  some  of  the  hills  in  Brown  county  the  pros- 
pect is  really  magnificent,  compensating  to  some  extent  for  the  incon- 
veniences experienced  by  the  horses  losing  shoes  in  the  steep  and  rocky 
ascents  and  descents,  as  well  as  the  scarcity  of  water  for  stock  on  the 
ridges.  This  rugged  county  is  also  fortunate  in  being  exempt  from 
milk-sickness,  according  to  the  data  furnished  us. 

WASHINGTON  AND  FLOYD  COUNTIES. 

Of  Washington  county  little  was  seen  by  us  personally.  Although 
it  was  included  in  the  line  of  travel  for  the  Fall  Survey  of  1860,  we 
were  compelled,  from  the  illness  of  an  employe,  to  omit  its  examina- 
tion on  that  occasion.  The  western  portion  is  doubtless  underlaid  by 
the  sub-carboniferous  limestones  of  Orange,  while  in  the  eastern  half 
is  probably  found  at  deep  cuts  formed  by  the  Muscatatuk,  the  Knob- 
Bandstone,  judging  from  the  fact  that  but  a  short  distance  beyond  the 
eastern  limit  of  this  county,  Devonian  black  shales  appear  on  the  slate 
ford  of  Graham's  Ford,  in  Scott  county. 

Floyd  county,  in  consequence  of  the  Ohio,  at  its  rapids,  cutting 
through  the  Devonian  rocks,  exhibits  at  New  Albany,  in  very  low  water, 
s->nie  of  the  Upper  Silurian  fossils,  found  also  on  the  Kentucky  side 
near  Bear-Grass  Creek.  Above  these  we  find  the  interesting  coral  reef, 


OF  INDIANA.  121 


that  has  been  cut  through  by  the  water,  exhibiting  in  ascending  order 
the  Coralline  beds,  the  shell  beds,  the  hydraulic  limestone  and  the  black 
slate,  extending  in  the  creek,  near  New  Albany, .thirty-eight  feet  above 
high  water.  Crossing  on  the  bridge  and  ascending  the  adjoining  knobs, 
we  find  the  Knob-sandstone  rising  some  460  feet  above  the  black  plate, 
overlaid  by  limestone  and  again  by  shaly  sandstone.  A  few  miles  fur- 
ther west  a  better  section  is  obtained  on  the  Corydon  road,  ascending 
to  Edwardsville. 

At  the  risk  of  being  charged  with  a  topographical  solecism,  or  in- 
congruity of  juxtaposition,  I  have  ventured  to  bring  these  strictly  con- 
secutive sections  together,  representing  the  one  which  is  found  a  te\v 
miles  from  New  Albany  on  a  vertical  scale  half  the  size  of  the  other 
and  bringing  the  rapid  portion  of  the  Falls,  to  economize  space,  some- 
what further  from  Jeiiersonville  than  truth  warrants.  The  facts  and 
figures  conveyed  in  the  section  otherwise  are  correct,  and  may  facilitate 
comparative  examinations. 


GEOLOGICAL  RECONNOISSANCE 


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OF    INDIANA.  123 


The  thickness  of  the  limestone  as  we  travel  west  continues  to  in- 
crease at  the  expense  of  sub-carboniferous  sandstone,  until  near  Cory- 
don,  in  Harrison  county,  it  is  seen  for  the  last  time  disappearing,  or 
dipping  under  the  sub-carboniferous  limestones. 

The  hills  .of  Floyd  afford  fine  timber,  Oak  and  Pine.  Some  portions 
on  the  Ohio  river,  as  the  admirably  underdrairied  and  well-managed 
farm  of  Mr.  Collins,  member  of  the  State  Board  of  Agriculture,  fur- 
nish as  bountiful  returns  as  can  be  obtained  anywhere  in  our  Missis- 
sippi Valley,  and  other  parts  of  the  county  are  well  adapted  for  small 
grain  and  grasses. 


124  GEOLOGICAL    RECONNOISSANCE 

SEC.  V.— COUNTIES  IN  THE  SUB-CARBONIFEROUS,  OR  CAR- 
BONIFEROUS, OR  MOUNTAIN,  OR  CAVERNOUS  LIME- 
STONE. 

To  prevent  mistake,  as  these  synonyms  are  used  indiscriminately  by 
different  writers  for  the  limestone,  (with  some  intervening  shales  or 
sandstones,)  occurring  above  the  Knob-sandstone,  or  Waverly  or  Sub- 
carboniferous  sandstone,  (part  of  which  seems  considered  by  Prof.  Hall, 
in  his  Iowa  report,  the  equivalent  of  the  New  York  Chemung  Group,)* 
and  below  the  Millstone  Grit  or  Carboniferous  Conglomerate,  they  are 
all  given  here,  although  usually  the  term  sub -carboniferous  limestone 
will  be  employed  to  distinguish  it  from  the  limestones  usually  only  a 
few  feet  in  thickness,  which  occur  in  the  Coal  Measures  and  are  hence 
more  properly  carboniferous  limestones. 

SUB-SUCTION  1. — GENERAL  DESCRIPTION  OP  THE  FORMATION. — Usually 
these  limestones,  formed  prior  to  the  true  coal  period,  have  obtained  a 
considerable  thickness  in  our  State,  spreading  over  the  greater  portions 
of  Montgomery,  Putnam,  Monroe,  Lawrence,  Orange,  Harrison  and 
Crawford  counties.  Including  the  overlying  shales,  grits  and  sand- 
stones up  to  the  Carboniferous  Conglomerate  or  Millstone  Grit,  the  lat- 
ter not  inclusive,  I  have  been  unable  to  satisfy  myself  of  a  greater 
vertical  thickness,  in  Indiana,  than  from  400  to  500.  feet,  which  agrees 
approximately  with  the  thickness  of  similar  beds  found  by  Prof.  Hall 
in  Iowa,  viz :  above  the  Knob-sandstone,  about  100  feet  of  Burlington 
limestone,  140  of  Keokuk  limestone,  65  of  Warsaw  limestone,  total  305 
feet,  besides  the  overlying  sandstones  included  by  him  as  below  the  con- 
glomerate. On  the  other  hand  a  section  given  by  Prof.  Hall,  from  ob- 
servations by  Mr.  Worthen,  State  Geologist  of  Illinois,  made  near 
Huntsville,  Alabama,  exhibits  a  thickness  for  similar  strata  of  about 
900  feet,  while  in  the  Missouri  Survey,  by  Prof.  Swallow,  over  1,100 
feet  have  been  assigned  to  these  beds,  under  the  names  Encrinital,  Ar- 
chimedes and  St.  Louis  limestones,  with  the  ferruginous  sandstones 
above. 

"With  us  the  lower  beds,  immediately  over  the  Knob-sandstone,  can 


*The  Chemung  Group  is  in  the  New  York  classification  one  of  the  higher  sub-divisions  of 
the  Devonian.  Prof.  Hall  admits  that  "the  passage  from  the  Chemung  (Devonian)  to  the 
Burlington  (Carboniferous)  limestone  is  so  gradual,  both  in  the  physical  aspect  and  in  the 
generic  and  specific  characters  of  the  fossils,  that  it  forms  no  greater  change  than  is  observed 
between  any  of  the  subordinate  groups." 


OP    INDIANA.  125 


be  distinctly  observed  in  Lawrence  county,  at  Heltonsville  and  on  Salt 
creek,  in  Monroe  county  on  Bean  Blossom,  two  miles  north-east  of 
Bloomington,  and  in  Montgomery  county,  near  Ladoga  and  near  Craw- 
fordsville.     The  first  layers  are  often  remarkably  white,  encrinital,  and 
sometimes,  near  the  junction,  so  hard  as  to  strike  fire  with  steel,  yet 
effervescing  with  acids,  and  exhibiting  numerous  entrochites.     Asso- 
ciated with  these  are  darker  beds,  with  Terebratula  lamellosa  and  other 
Brachiopods.     These  with  the  superincumbent  blue  and  gray  limestones 
(which  have  sometimes  diffused  fragments  of  calc-spar,  giving  rise  to  the 
name  of  Bird's-eye-limestone,  or  whose  texture  is  so  uniform  as  to  form 
it  gocd  serviceable  lithographic  stone,)  constitute  what  may  be  called 
the  Lower  or  Monroe-Harrison  sub-carboniferous  limestone,  attaining 
at  times  a  thickness  of  from  100  to  150  feet ;  but  more  usually  less, 
diminishing  as  we  go  west,  while  the  ferruginous  sandstones  and  shales 
increase  at  their  expense.     The  fossil  fish,   (Palssoniscus)  found   in  the 
eastern  part  of  Monroe  county,  Indiana,  is  probably  in  this  bed.    Above 
these  strata  of  limestone,  occasionally  silicious  shales,  but  more   fre- 
quently red  clays  and  chert,  occupy  a  space  of  from  25  to  over  100  feet, 
often  full  of  geodes,  that  have  fallen  from  the  superincumbent  calca- 
reous beds,  to  which  the  term  Middle  or  Lawrence-Crawford  sub-carbo- 
niferous limestone  may  be  applied.     This  geodiferous  limestone  is  from 
20  to  100  feet  thick,  and  in  its  upper  layers  is  sometimes  magnesian, 
sometimes  flinty  in  bands  like  Lydian  stone.      The  geodes,  where  the 
limestones  disintegrates,  fall  out,  exhibiting  an  oval,  wrinkled  exterior, 
and  if  broken  open  are  seen  to  contain  clear  white  crystals,  pointing  to 
a  central  cavity.     The  crystals  are  sometimes  calc-spar  or  dog-tooth 
spar,   (cabonate   of  lime,)  sometimes  quartz,   (silica) :  occasionally  we 
find  distinct  crystals  of  both  occupying  different  portions  of  the  same 
spherical  mass  ;  and,  at  other  times,  botryoidal  chalcedony  replaces  the 
regular  crystals.     These  seem  to  result  from  the  infiltration  into  the 
limestone   cavities   of  water   holding   carbonate  of  lime   in   solution, 
through    the   aid   of  an  excess  of    carbonic   acid,  and   holding  silex 
dissolved  either  aided  by  heat  or  by  alkalies,  somewhat  as  Hint  is  form- 
ed in  chalk  or  as  the  splendid  quartz  crystals  form  abundantly  in  rock 
cavities  of  middle  Arkansas,  where  to  this  day  analysis  shows  the  water 
to  be  alkaline. 

The  chert  beds  in  Indiana  are  also  usually  characterized  by  a  high 
red  color  derived  from  infiltration  and  deposition  of  the  hydrous  perox- 
ide of  iron,  which  shows  itself  abundantly  in  a  fine  crumbling  condi- 


126  GEOLOGICAL   RECONNOISSANCE 

tion,  where  some  of  the  geodes  and  most  of  the  chert  blocks  are  broken 
open. 

It  is  likewise  in  these  strata  that  we  find,  especially  in  caves,  Epsom 
salts,  (sulphate  of  Magnesia,)  resulting  from  the  decomposition  of  the 
Magnesia,  being  often  in  the  form  of  an  effloresence  on  the  surface  of 
that  rock;  also  gypsum,  stalactites,  stalagmites  and  the  beautiful  fibrous 
satin-spar,  such  as  that  from  the  Pillar  of  the  Constitution  in  Wyandot 
cave. 

The  Middle  Limestone,  occasionally  replete  in  some  strata  with  the 
coral  Lithostration  Canadense,  also  often  oolitic  in  its  upper  strata,  some- 
times with  shells  of  the  genus  Euomphalus,  passes  gradually  into  arena- 
ceous and  sometimes  magnesian  limestones,  then  to  silicious  shales,  often 
with  alternations  as  in  the  beds  below,  of  Bryozoic  chert  and  red  clay, 
occupying  in  all  from  50  to  100  feet.  Next,  in  ascending  order,  occurs  a 
limestone  which  as  it  sometimes  constitutes  one  heavy  bed,  or  member, 
but  more  frequently  by  the  intercalations  of  from  eight  to  thirty  feet 
of  silicious  shales,  areneceous  limestones,  dolomite  or  chert  beds,  is 
separated  into  two  sub-members,  may  hence  be  termed  the  twin  or  up- 
per sub-carboniferous  limestone.  The  two  sub-members  constitute  the 
first  and  second  Archimedes  limestone  of  some  authors,  and  may  con- 
veniently be  distinguished  into  "A,"  the  sub-member  above  ;  "B,"  the 
sub-member  below. 

The  occasional  separation  into  two  sub-members  is  true  also  of  the 
strata  forming  the  Middle  limestone  and  even  the  Lower;  but  much 
less  frequently  in  Indiana  than  is  the  case  with  the  upper  member. 

This  Upper  sub-carboniferous  limestone,  which  might  be  also  termed 
the  Orange-Martin  limestone,  from  its  prevalence  in  those  counties,  is 
often  characterized,  in  its  sub-member  "B,"  by  abundant  Bryozoa,  of 
the  genus  Ketepora,  Fenestella,  Ceriopora,  &c ,  and  it  is  occasionally 
oolitic. 

The  sub-member  "A"  is  more  frequently  compact,  with  few  fossils 
and  a  very  clear  ring  when  struck  by  the  hammer,  sometimes  more 
coarsely  crystalline  and  containing  Archimeidpora  Archimedes,  or  spines 
and  fragments  of  Echinites;  other  layers,  sometimes  the  entire  twin 
member,  may  be  found  so  replete  with  several  species  of  productus  as 
fairly  to  claim  the  title  of  productal  limestones.  None  has  yet  been 
found  by  us  of  the  brecciated  variety  mentioned  in  Prof.  HalPs  Iowa 
report.  The  intervening  silicious  shales  furnish  the  grindstone  grits. 

The  upper  limestone  often  forms  the  roof  of  caves,  the  underlying 
shales  or  argillo-calcareous  sandstones  and  silicious  dolomites  washing 


OF  INDIANA. 


127 


out  more  or  less  to  form  the  narrow  passages  or  vaulted  domes  of  the 
caves,  as  will  be  shown  in  detail  when  describing  Crawford  county. 

Below  each  one  of  these  sub-members  a  thin  coal  seam,  or  a  fine  clay, 
has  been  found  in  several  counties  of  Indiana,  seldom  exceeding 

7  O 

eighteen  inches  in  thickness.  Above  this  upper  sub-carboniferous 
limestene  we  have  a  succession  of  ferruginous  sandstones,  with  a  varie- 
ty of  grits,  embracing  the  grindstone  and  whetstone  quarries  of  Indi- 
ana, with  their  Lepidodendra,  Stigmariee  and  other  remarkable  carbonif- 
erous vegetation,  or  an  occasional  thin  coal  seam,  sometimes  both,  as  in 
Orange  county. 

These  ferruginous  sandstones,  occupying  a  space  of  from  fifty  to  a 
hundred  feet,  are  assigned  by  some  writers  to  the  Millstone  Grit  series, 
which  in  its  true  conglomerate  form  is  often- found  superposed  on  the 
finer  grits  to  the  extent  of  forty  or  fifty  feet,  while  others  consider  the 
ferruginous  sandstone  as  belonging  to  the  series  which  we  denominate 
the  sub-carboniferous  limestone  series. 

To  render  the  foregoing  more  intelligible  a  consecutive  section  is 
subjoined,  combining  the  whole,  from  actual  sections,  verified  so  repeat- 
edly at  different  points,  as  to  establish  with  considerable  accuracy  the 
correct  order  of  superposition,  average  thickness,  and  palseontology,  in 
descending  order,  thus : 


System. 

Formation. 

MEMBERS. 

Feet. 

LOCALITIES. 

Ferruginous  sandstone. 

50-100 

Whetstone  quarries  near  French  Lick  and  else- 

where, in  Orange  county  ;  also  near  Greencastle,  Put- 

nam county,  and  near  Dover  Hill,  Martin  county. 

Upper  limestone. 

Oil  Creek,  Perry  county  ;  Mt.  Prospect,  Crawford 

o> 

"A." 

3-20 

county;     Silverville,    Lawrence     county;     Owens- 

Grindstone    grit;    intervening 
shales. 

0-30 

burg,  Green  county,  and  Independence,  Warren  coun- 
ty ;  also  part  of  Orange  or  Little  Bluer  River,  Craw- 

jj 

"B." 

5-30 

ford  county. 

i 

rS 

Aluminous   and  calcareous 

) 

o 

& 

a 

0   I 

&   ' 

shales. 
Chert  and  red  clay. 

£  50-100 

Upper  part  of  Wyandot  cave  and  similar  caverns. 

'£ 
o 

Silicious  and  Maguesian  lime- 

Lowest points  in  Wyaudot  cave.    Bed  of  Lost  River, 

,0 

£ 

stones. 

Orange  county. 

« 

C3 

Lithostroion  beds. 

o 

I 

Middle  limestone,  with  geodes. 

25-50 

Near  Bedford,  Lawrence  county  ;  Gosport  and  west 

& 

part  of  Monroe. 

Chert  and  red  clay. 
Argillo-calcareous  sandstone. 

j  40-110 

Locally  lithographic. 

Lower  limestone. 

30-100 

Harrison  county. 

(  Sub-carb. 
^sandstone. 

(Green  and  grey  shales. 
/Yellowish  sandstones. 

450 

Floyd  county  ;  eastern  Monroe  ;  Brown  county,  &c. 

SUB-SECTION  2. — SOILS,  &c.,  OF  THE  CARBONIFEROUS  LIMESTONE  SERIES. 
The  decomposition  of  these  limestones,  with  their  intercalated  sand- 
stones and  aluminous  shales,  gives  rise,  as  might  be  anticipated,  to  a 
favorable  admixture  for  most  agricultural  products.  To  these  are  added, 
in  some  of  the  northern  counties  embraced  in  this  sub-division,  many 


128  GEOLOGICAL  RECONNOISSANCE 


feet  of  quaternary  deposits,  still  contributing  to  the  variety.  The  gen- 
eral outline  of  the  country  is  that  of  undulating  land,  neither  so  broken 
nor  so  sandy  as  the  knobs,  nor  yet  so  level  as  in  those  counties  wholly 
quaternary. 

The  soil  generally  seems  admirably  adapted  for  small  grain  and 
grasses,  consequently  we  see,  particularly  in  Harrison,  Lawrence,  Mon- 
roe, Putnam  and  Montgomery,  fine  cereals,  luxuriant  meadows  and  pic- 
turesque pastures.  In  the  western  part  of  Crawford  and  Orange,  as 
well  as  the  eastern  portions  of  Martin  and  Green,  where  the  Ferrugin- 
ous Sandstones  constitute  the  higher  general  levels,  the  surface  is  more 
uneven  and  the  soil  often  less  calcareous  and  productive.  These,  how- 
ever, would  probably  prove  fine  high  and  dry  pastures  for  sheep,  a 
species  of  stock  for  which  there  will  probably  be  a  gradually  increasing 
demand.  The  staple  agricultural  products  are  corn,  wheat  and  stock, 
including,  besides  the  flocks  of  sheep,  hogs,  cattle,  horses  and  mules. 

SUB- SECTION  8. — ROCK  QUARRIES,  &c. — Perhaps  no  other  formation  in 
Indiana  is  so  replete  as  this  with  quarries  affording  fine  building  mate- 
rials, millstones  for  some  purposes,  good  grindstones,  an  excellent  qual- 
ity of  whetstones,  and  locally  a  fair  quality  of  lithographic  stone,  as 
well  as  hydraulic  limestone. 

This  seems  to  have  resulted  partly  from  the  quiet  waters  in  which 
portions  of  the  materials  were  deposited,  partly  from  the  succession  of 
calcareous,  silicious  and  aluminous  materials,  which,  especially  near 
their  junction,  are  thus  often  modified. 

The  various  quarries  for  building  rock  will  be  found  fully  described 
in  giving  the  details  of  counties  in  this  formation,  particularly  Monroe, 
Putnam,  Lawrence  and  Crawford  ;  good  localities  for  grindstones  and 
whetstones  are  enumerated  in  the  description  of  Orange  county ;  the 
lithographic  stone  is  discussed  in  detailing  the  resources  of  Harrison 
county. 

SUB-SECTION  4. — METALLIC  ORES  AND  OTHER  MINERAL  WEALTH. — Al- 
though thin  seams  of  coal  show  themselves  in  Indiana,  in  the  sub-car- 
boniferous limestone  series,  amounting  to  perhaps  eighteen  inches  or 
two  feet  in  thickness,  which  sub-conglomerate  coals  have  in  a  few  other 
States  thickened  to  workable  beds,  yet  the  probabilities  are  that  these 
seams  will  not  prove  profitable  in  our  State ;  the  true  coal  measures  fur- 
nishing beds  of  so  much  greater  thickness. 

As  already  mentioned  the  chert,  occurring  in  this  formation,  is  often 
highly  charged  with  hydrous  peroxide  of  iron,  giving  a  deep  red  color 
to  the  adjoining  aluminous  materials.  These  being  the  strata  in  which 


OF   INDIANA.  129 


the  heavy  deposits  of  a  similar  character  furnish  abundant  iron  ore  for 
furnaces,  in  the  counties  of  Trigg,  Lyou,  Caldwell,  Livingston  and 
Crittenden,  Kentucky,  it  is  not  improbable  that  a  detailed  survey  may 
bring  to  light  similar  mineral  wealth  in  this  portion  of  Indiana,  par- 
ticularly as  considerable  deposits  exist  in  section  85,  to.wnship  2  north, 
range  2  west,  and  have  already  been  seen  at  several  other  localities. 

The  same  reasoning  applies,  although  perhaps  with  less  probability, 
to  the  discovery  of  lead  ore,  as  the  galena  (sulphuret  of  lead)  found  in 
Derbyshire,  England,  associated  with  fluor  spar,  as  well  as  the  sulphu- 
ret of  lead  and  sulphuret  of  zinc  in  Yorkshire,  ramify  their  most  pro- 
ductive veins  through  the  rocks  under  the  Millstone  Grit  series  of  those 
counties  in  Great  Britain.  Details  on  this  subject  can  be  found  in  Prof. 
Phillips'  work  on  the  Mountain  Limestone,  and  in  the  first  volume  of 
the  Kentucky  report. 

Nitre  has  been  manufactured  somewhat  extensively  in  the  caves,  and 
Epsom  Salts  could  also  be  obtained  in  considerable  quantities. 

SUB-SECTION  5. — TIMBER  AND  PREDOMINANT  VEGETATION. — In  portions 
of  Kentucky  parts  of  the  sub-carboniferous  limestone  series  gives  rise 
to  "  barrens "'  with  White  Oak,  Red  Oak,  and  Black  Jack  Oak  ;  but  in 
Indiana,  although  a  similar  character  prevails  to  a  small  extent,  where 
the  upper  ferruginous  sandstones  furnish  the  main  soil,  and  Cedar  occa- 
sionally in  Crawford  county  exhibits  indigenous  luxuriance  in  the  rocky 
clefts,  yet  usually  the  sub-carboniferous  limestone  region  is  well  tim- 
bered, and  where  the  aluminous  ingredients  are  abundant,  we  have 
Beech  here,  as  in  most  parts  of  southern  Indiana,  constituting  the  pre- 
dominant forest  growth,  associated,  however,  with  Tulip  Tree,  Sugar 
Tree,  Black  and  White  Walnut,  and  Ash. 

Some  ferns  were  collected  from  several  counties  in  this  formation, 
but  they  do  not  exhibit  the  profusion  and  variety  noticed  in  the  sub- 
carboniferous  sandstone  detritus,  and  in  soils  resulting  from  the  disinte- 
gration of  aluminous  shales  of  Devonian  age.  Mr.  Larrabee,  of  Green- 
castle,  informs  us  that  peat  has  been  dug  in  the  south-west  portion  of 
Putnam  county.  The  cereals  and  grasses  luxuriate  in  Indiana  on  the 
soils  resulting  from  sub- carboniferous  limestones  and  their  intervening 
argillo-silicious  shales. 

In  some  of  the  moist,  rich  bottoms,  north  of  White  river,  in  Law- 
rence county,  an  extensive  growth  of  our  American  genus  of  theMeze- 
reum  family,  the  Leatherwood,  Moose-wood  or  Wicopy,  (Dirca  palustris, 
L.,)  the  fibrous  bark  of  which  the  Indians  used  for  thongs,  has  given 
its  name  to  a  creek  which  empties  south  of  Bedford  into  White  river. 


130  GEOLOGICAL    RECONNOISSANCE 


SUB-SECTION  6. — MINERAL  AND  OTHER  SPRINGS. — The  celebrated  sul- 
phur springs  of  Orange  county  flow  from  the  base  of  the  grindstone  grits 
over  a  bed  of  limestone,  as  described  hereafter.  Several  chalybeate 
springs  will  be  found  noticed  in  the  details  of  these  sub-carboniferous 
limestone  counties,  and  copious  springs  of  sparkling  water,  often  rather 
hard  from  filtering  through  the  limestone  cavities,  are  quite  abundant. 
Frequently  the  water  pours  out  from  above  the  limestone  strata,  being 
arrested  after  filtration  through  the  shaly  sandstones. 

One  remarkable  geographical  feature  of  this  formation  consists  in  the 
"sink  holes"  of  some  regions,  where  a  limestone  stratum,  usually  the 
sub-member  "  B,"  has  caved  in,  leaving  a  depression  through  which 
the  water  filters,  until  perhaps  clay  washings  close  the  cracks  and  fis- 
sures sufficiently  for  ponds  to  form,  often  convenient  for  stock. 

A  yet  more  striking  phenomenon  consists  in  the  entire  disappearance 
of  good-sized  streams  for  miles,  and  their  reappearance,  or  the  outbursts 
of  other  subterranean  water  in  the  form  of  fathomless  springs,  capable 
of  furnishing  fine  water  power.  Lawrence,  Orange  and  Crawford  fur- 
nish some  of  these  remarkable  localities,  the  details  of  which  will  be 
given  under  those  heads.  No  artesian  wells  or  borings,  so  far  as  we 
know,  have  yet  been  attempted  in  this  formation,  and  the  numerous 
cavities  for  the  escape  of  water  might  interfere  with  success. 

SUB-SECTION  7.— MISCELLANEOUS  FACTS,  AS  TO  THE  PREVALENCE  OF  DIS- 
EASE, &c.—  The  greater  area  of  this  region  is  very  healthy,  and  it  has 
fortunately  been  selected  for  the  site  of  many  of  our  collegiate  institu- 
tions. Wabash  College,  at  Crawfordsville,  is  close  to  its  lowest  mem- 
bers. The  State  University,  at  Bloomington,  is  chiefly  on  the  lower 
limestone.  The  Asbury  University,  at  Greencastle,  is  a  few  feet  above 
the  uppermost  limestone ;  and  Hanover  College,  Jefferson  county,  is  in 
a  region  probably  equally  salubrious,  but  of  Silurian  age. 

Some  portions  of  the  country  are,  it  is  true,  liable  to  intermittents,  as 
in  the  bottoms  of  White  river ;  in  others  typhoid  fever  and  pneumonia 
may  visit  as  elsewhere;  or  again,  milk-sickness,  in  Spice  and  Brushy 
valleys,  and  a  few  other  localities,  admonishes  to  caution  in  permitting 
cattle  to  range  ont  of  cultivated  fields,  yet  on  the  whole  it  may  be  con- 
sidered as  having  established  its  claims  to  decided  general  healthfulness. 

The  numerous  caves  of  this  cavernous  limestone  are  chiefly  in  a  con- 
tinuous, gently  curved  line,  nearly  equidistant  from  the  margin  of  the 
coal  field;  and  the  Mammoth  cave  of  Kentucky  is  nearly  a  continua- 
tion of  the  same  curve,  about  130  miles,  in  a  direct  line,  from  its  twin 
sister,  the  Wyandot. 


OF   INDIANA. 


131 


SUB-SECTION  8. — CHARACTERISTIC  FOSSILS  OF  THIS  FORMATION. — 

Corals:    Lithostrotion  Canadense, 
L.  harmodites, 
L.  Stokesi, 
Zaphrentis  centrulis, 
Z.  Cliffordana, 
[Z.  spinulosa,  Z.  Dalii,] 
Cyathoxonia  cynodon, 
[Amplexus  coralloides,] 
Trochophyllum  Verneuilanum. 
Crinoids :    Actinocrinus  proboscidialis, 
A.  tuberosus, 
Agaricocrinus  Wortheni, 
JSynbathocrinus  Swallovi, 
Platycriuus  Wortheni, 
Forbesiocrinus  Wortheni  ? 

Pentremites  sp.  ?  (perhaps  the  oblongus  of  Phillips.) 
Echinites:    Archseocidaris  Wortheni. 
Bryozoa :    Archimedipora  Archimedes, 
Retepora  laxa,  (Phil.) 
R.  irregularis,  (Phil.) 
Polypora  flustriformis,  (McL.) 
Fenestella  membranacea,  D'Orb.) 
And  two  new  species  of  Ceriopora,  hereafter  described. 
Conchifers:    Edmondia  sulcata,  Ph.,  (Sanguinolites  of  McCoy, 

Allorisma  of  King.) 
Brachiopods:     Spirifer  striatas, 
S.  attenuates, 
S.  Forbesi, 
S.  Sovverbyi, 
Orthis  crinistria, 
0.  Keokuk,  (Hall,) 

Terebratula  hastata ;  also,  var.  sacculus, 
T.  lainellosa, 

Productus  semirecticulatus, 
P.  punctatus, 
P.  tenuistriatus, 
P.  elegans. 
Pteropods :     Conularia  Crawfordsvillensis. 


1  32  GEOLOGICAL  HECONNOISSANCE 


Gasteropods:     Pileopsis  (Capulus)  pabulocrinus, 
Euornphalus  catillus. 

SUB- SECTION  9. — A  DETAILED  DESCRIPTION  OF  EACH  COUNTY  IN  THE  FOR- 
MATION.— 

MONTGOMERY   COUNTY. 

The  eastern  portion  of  this  county  is  underlaid  by  the  sub-carbon- 
iferous sandstone ;  but,  as  we  approach  the  center,  going  west,  we  ob- 
serve the  junction,  and  have  a  fine  opportunity  to  collect,  near  Craw- 
fordsville,  the  fossils  of  the  limestone  above,  many  of  which,  however, 
have  become  detached,  and  are  found  in  the  decomposing  aluminous 
and  silicious  shales  beneath.  High  portions  of  the  county  are  said  to 
present  evidences  of  the  Millstone  Grit;  but  all  the  underlying  rocks, 
of  whatever  character,  are  covered  by  a  heavy  deposit  of  Quaternary, 
amounting  frequently  to  over  a  hundred  feet,  and  it  is  therefore  only  at 
deep  cuts,  made  by  the  water  courses,  that  we  have  access  to  the  rocky 
substratum. 

The  county  is  generally  somewhat  level  or  undulating,  being  only 
broken  near  the  water  courses.  The  soil  is  rich,  and  agricultural  pro- 
ducts abundant.  Corn,  wheat  and  stock  are  exported  :  pork  being  a 
staple  article,  and  mules  selling  for  $50  00  at  weaning  time.  Some  of 
the  sandy  loam  portions  have  furnished  excellent  Red-top  crops.  Other 
portions,  somewhat  wet,  and  requiring  drainage,  have  been  successfully 
underdrained,  at  an  average  cost  of  one  dollar  per  acre.  The  materials 
employed  were  AVhite  Oak  rails  and  staves,  which,  after  twelve  years, 
are  still  sound,  and  the  drains  unobstructed. 

Several  flocks  of  fine-wooled  sheep  were  observed,  and,  <r,s  water 
power  is  good,  and  some  woolen  factories  are  in  profitable  operation, 
this  branch  of  agricultural  and  manufacturing  wealth  may  be  expected 
to  extend. 

In  the  neighborhood  of  Darlington,  we  observed  considerable  fields 
of  sorghum  and  broom  corn,  of  promising  growth. 

Although  rock  quarries  are  not  abundant,  yet,  on  Raccoon  creek,  cal- 
careo-silicious  slabs  for  tombstones  and  other  purposes,  bave  been  taken 
out ;  and  layers  of  the  limestone,  by  selection,  are  sufficiently  free  from 
arenaceous  adulteration  to  burn  into  lime.  Some  of  these  are  the  white 
encrinital,  immediately  over  the  knob  sandstone ;  others  are  bluish  lime- 
stone, solid  and  almost  destitute  of  fossils,  underlying  a  silicious  lime- 


OF  INDIANA.  133 


stone  or  calcareous  sandstone,  such  as  is  usually  termed  by  quarrymen 
"  bastard  limestone." 

There  are  abundant  indications  of  iron  ore,  chiefly  in  the  Drift,  and 
numerous  chalybeate  springs  exude  where  these  deposits  rest  on  a 
stratum  of  quaternary  clay.  Several  of  those  springs  were  observed  on 
Cornstalk  creek.  While  Mr.  Stephen  Field's  farm,  (Sec.  4,  T.  18  K,  II. 
4  W.,)  near  Crawfordsville,  was  in  timber,  that  region  was  frequently 
struck  by  lightning,  which  induced  some  to  suppose  that  there  might 
be  large  bodies  of  iron  near  the  surface.  But  the  fact  that,  since  the 
timber  has  been  removed,  this  seldom  occurs,  would  rather  indicate  that 
the  tall  trees  on  an  elevated  point  acted  as  conductors,  especially  when 
wet,  rather  than  deposits  of  hydrous  oxide  of  iron,  the  only  ore  seen 
near  there ;  one  whose  conducting  power  can  not  be  great. 

The  Quaternary  bowlders,  gravel,  &c.,  seem  to  have  been  deposited  so 
unconformably  in  the  depressions  of  the  underlying  strata,  that,  although 
Prof.  Hovey,  of  Wabash  College,  in  having  his  well  dug,  encountered 
bowlders  at  seven  feet  from  the  surface,  yet  his  immediate  neighbor,  on 
the  adjoining  town  lot,  passed  through  80  to  90  feet  of  sand,  gravel  and 
blue  hard-pan,  and  found  at  that  depth  fragments  of  wood,  in  dark 
mud  and  gravel. 

Silurian  fossils  are  near  here  abundant  in  the  Drift,  derived  probably 
from  the  Upper  Mississippi  region ;  and  abundant  fragments  were  re- 
ported as  resembling  charcoal  or  peat.  Lights  were  also  stated  as  being 
visible  at  times,  apparently  emanating  from  the  soil :  not  having  an  op- 
portunity to  visit  the  locality,  it  is  difficult  to  decide  whether  or  not 
these  derived  their  origin  from  bubbles  of  phosphuretted  hydrogen, 
generated  usually  in  swampy  places. 

A  bed  of  marl  was  observed  at  several  places  near  the  prairies  of 
western  Montgomery,  underlying  the  black  muck,  and  some  bowlders 
were  noticed  of  half  a  ton  weight,  the  prevalent  varieties  being  granite, 
gneiss,  greenstone  and  quartz  rock. 

About  twenty  years  since,  when  Major  Ellston  dug  a  well  near  the 
bank  of  Sugar  creek,  at  Stover's  mill,  some  60  feet  below  the  surface  it 
was  supposed  that  a  four  foot  bed  of  coal  was  struck,  after  boring 
through  sandstone.  Judging  from  all  evidence,  it  seems  reasonable  to 
conclude  that  these  were  the  black  bituminous  shales,  of  Devonian  age, 
which  theoretically  would  be  expected  to  crop  out  a  few  miles  east,  from 
under  the  Knob  sandstone,  as  they  do  on  the  Wabash,  at  Americus. 

Timber  is  sufficiently  abundant,  Beech,  Sugar- Tree,  Hickory,  Ash 

some  Chestnut,  Haekberry  and  Honey  Locust,  (Grleditschia  triacanthos) 
9 


134  GEOLOGICAL    RECONNOISSANCE 

undergrowth  in  places,  Elder,  Polk- weed,  some  ferns  and  stickseed, 
(Echinospermum  lappula.) 

In  the  creeks  were  observed  shells  of  the  genera  unio,  cyclas,  melania. 
physa  and  planorbis. 

No  hog  cholera  has  troubled  this  county  latterly,  and  milk-sickness 
does  not  occur  within  25  or  30  miles  of  Crawfordsville,  consequently 
not  in  the  county. 

The  Court  House  at  Crawfordsville  is  744  feet  above  the  sea ;  at  the 
College  the  collection  of  fossils  and  minerals  is  well  worthy  a  visit. 

PUTNAM  COUNTY. 

The  prevailing  character  in  this  county  results  from  the  proximity  of 
the  upper  limestone  members,  with  occasional  admixture  of  some  over- 
lying ferruginous  sandstone,  and  a  considerable  top  dressing  of  quater- 
nary materials,  giving  a  favorable  variety  of  soil,  well  adapted  for  small 
grain  and  grasses. 

Near  Greencastle,  the  capital,  the  limestone  rock  comes  sometimes  to 
the  surface,  but  more  frequently  is  a  few  feet  below,  sometimes  overlaid 
by  sandstones,  and  a  thin  seam  of  sub-conglomerate  coal.  The  lime- 
stone furnishes  a  durable  and  handsome  building  material,  seldom,  how- 
ever, exceeding,  at  this  locality,  over  22  inches  in  thickness. 

Some  interesting  fossils  were  obtained  here,  under  the  polite  guidance 
of  Mr.  Larrabee:  numerous  Bryozoa  and  remains  of  actinocrinites, 
probably  A.  longirostris  ?  spines  of  archseocidaris,  (A.  Wortheni,) 
Ketzia  Yerneuilana,  and  Productus  tenuicostus,  besides  fine  samples  of 
Stigmaria,  in  the  overlying  sandstone,  showing  beautifully  the  ramifi- 
cations of  the  rootlet  or  fibres,  transversely  from  the  sub-central  core  or 
axis,  terminating  externally  so  as  to  form  the  stigmata,  from  which  it 
derives  its  name.* 

At  Ilavilah  Findley's,  2J-  miles  south-east  of  Putnamville,  a  coal, 
somewhat  slaty,  but  otherwise  good,  is  obtained  for  use. 

From  four  to  six  miles  northerly  from  Greencastle,  the  ferruginous 
sandstone  is  stated  to  furnish  whetstones.  We  saw  a  sample  of  good 
quality,  but  were  unable  to  visit  the  locality. 

Peat  is  reported  as  occurring  in  the  south-west  part  of  the  county. 

As  the  particulars  regarding  the  sub-conglomerate  coal  of  this  county 
will  be  found  in  the  report  of  Mr.  Lesquereux,  it  is  unnecessary  hereto 
enlarge  further  on  these  details. 

*  For  this  cut,  sec  Appendix. 


OF  INDIANA.  135 


Greencastle  is  pleasantly  and  healthily  situated,  and  its  flourishing  in- 
stitution of  learning,  the  Indiana  Asbury  University,  is  well  patronized. 
The  Court  House  is  830  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea. 

MONROE  COUNTY. 

As  we  find,  near  the  eastern  limits  of  this  county,  on  Bean  Blossom, 
the  junction  of  the  Knob-sandstone  with  the  overlying  Lower  Caver- 
nous limestone,  while  at  the  extreme  western  limit  we  have  the  upper 
oolitic  members  of  the  sub-carboniferous  limestone,  and  soon  reach  the 
conglomerate  in  the  adjoining  county  west, Monroe  county  maybe  said 
to  embrace  nearly  the  entire  range  of  the  sub-carboniferous  limestone, 
with  comparatively  much  less  Drift  than  Montgomery  or  Putnam  coun- 
ties. 

Bloomington,  the  capital,  and  the  seat  of  our  State  University,  is  sur- 
rounded by  a  fine  undulating  region,  luxuriating  in  Beech  and  other 
fine  timber.  The  Court  House  is  771  feet  above  the  sea,  consequently 
is  nearly  30  feet  higher  than  Crawfordsville,  and  about  60  feet  lower 
than  Greencastle,  which  accords  with  their  relative  stratigraphical  geol- 
ogy ;  they  being  all  in  the  line  of  strike,  but  Crawfordsville  being  chiefly 
near  the  base  of  the  series,  Monroe  the  middle,  and  Greencastle  in  the 
upper  members. 

Judge  Hughes,  in  digging  his  well,  on  an  elevated  portion  of  town, 
passed  through  6  feet  of  clay  and  54  feet  of  solid  limestone,  beneath 
which  he  obtained  water. 

In  the  eastern  part  of  the  county,  geodes  are  remarkably  abundant 
in  the  natural  low  cuts,  which  reach  the  chert. 

In  the  north-west  portion  of  the  county,  there  is  an  interesting  and 
important  stone  quarry,  on  the  development  of  which  Capt.  Love,  of 
Indianapolis,  formerly  of  the  U.  S.  Army,  and  others,  have  expended 
about  |20,000.  Columns  can  be  obtained  here  sometimes  18  feet  in 
height,  without  a  crack.  The  upper  portion,  for  about  6  feet,  is  usually 
a  hard,  close-grained,  white  limestone,  often  oolitic,  then  succeed,  in 
descending  order,  12  to  18  feet  of  a  fair  building  stone,  in  which  are 
some  shales  of  Enomphalus,  Murchisonia,  and  an  occasional  Retzia. 
The  substrata  are  usually  somewhat  coarser  and  more  friable,  until  the 
evaporation  of  the  quarry  water  hardens  them.  For  superstructures, 
especially,  this  " Monroe  Marble  Quarry"  stone  is  deserving  of  exten- 
sive use,  on  account  of  its  beauty,  ease  of  working,  durability,  and  fair 
average  strength  of  material. 


136  GEOLOGICAL   RECONNOISSANCE 

The  subjoined  official  letter,  written  March  9, 1860,  to  Capt.  Love,  in 
reply  to  his  queries,  furnishes  additional  details  on  this  subject : 

K  HARMONY,  March  9,  1860. 

DEAR  SIR: — In  accordance  with  your  wish  that  I  should  state  officially 
the  result  of  my  examinations  at  Stineville,  I  am  pleased  to  be  able  to 
say  that,  of  the  many  good  quarries  in  Indiana,  yours  is  among  the  best 
lor  a  variety  of  purposes.  The  rock  is  geologically  in  the  sub-carbon- 
iferous limestone,  somewhat  oolitic  in  structure,  and  having  occasion- 
ally a  few  fossils  imbedded,  such  as  Retzia  Yerneuilana,  Enomphalus 
Spurgenensis,  and  Murchisonia  turritella,  already  described  by  Prof. 
Hall  as  being  found  in  the  oolitic  rock  of  another  Indiana  locality,  and 
altogether  resembling  considerably  the  Portland  stone  of  Great  Britain, 
although  that  is  from  the  more  recent,  true  Oolitic  Formation. 

An  examination  of  the  spec,  gravity,  and  consequent  weight  per  cubic 
foot,  of  your  Stineville  rock,  confirms  this  view,  as  one  sample  gave  sp. 
gr.  2.14,  weight  of  a  cubic  ft.  133.3  Ibs.;  the  other  2.47,  weight  153.88 
Ibs. 

According  to  Mahan's  Civil  Engineering,  used  at  the  U.  S.  Military 
Academy,  Portland  stone  gave,  in  one  sample,  sp.  gr.  2.428,  weight  of 
a  cubic  foot,  148.08 ;  while  in  another  the  sp.  gr.  was  2.145.  Judging 
from  analogy,  as  we  have  not  yet  obtained  the  hydraulic  press,  which 
we  design  using  to  test  the  strength  of  materials,  this  would  give  a  re- 
sistance on  each  superficial  inch  at  the  moment  of  crushing,  equal  to 
from  If  to  2  tons,  about  half  as  much  as  that  of  granite;  while  the 
average  weight  producing  fractures  is  on  each  square  inch  nearly  one, 
or  about  one-third  that  of  granite. 

The  estimate  of  a  transverse  strain  on  prisms  of  4  inches  long,  the 
cross  section  being  a  square  of  2  inches  on  a  side,  distance  between  the 
points  of  support  3  inches,  averages  2682  Ibs.,  being  nearly  3  times  the 
strain  which  well-burned  brick  will  sustain,  and  nearly  equal  to  Cornish 
granite,  which  averages  2808  Ibs. 

The  resistance  to  abrasion  is  more  than  double  that  of  good  brick, 
and  about  four-fifths  that  of  statuary  marble.  Undoubtedly,  for  sus- 
taining great  vertical  pressure,  as  in  bridge  abutments,  foundations  to 
large  buildings,  and  the  like,  more  compact  rock  might  be  obtained ; 
but  for  beauty  of  structure  and  color,  durability,  ease  of  working,  and 
thickness  without  a  crack,  say  18  feet,  which  yours  possess,  it  seems 
all  that  need  be  desired  for  superstructures. 

The  following  analysis  proves  that  there  are  no  materials,  in  any 


OF  INDIANA.  137 


quantity,  calculated  to  impair  its  durability  by  disintegration,  a  small 
amount  of  iron,  equally  diftused,  acting  rather  as  a  cement  to  the  cal- 
careous particles. 

One  hundred  parts  of  the  building  rock  gave : 

Of  moisture,  expelled  at  250°  F 0.05 

Of  insoluble  residuum  (silica) 0.90 

Of  iron  and  alumina 3.00 

Of  bicarbonate  of  lime 95.00 

Of  bicarbonate  of  magnesia 0.22 

Of  loss  and  alkalies 0.8§ 

100.00 

The  rock  at  your  quarry  is  very  much  of  the  same  character  as  some 
obtained  in  Harrison,  Lawrence,  Putnam  and  other  counties,  while  sev- 
eral localities  in  Wabash,  Decatur,  Jennings,  Jefferson,  &c.,  furnish 
compact  rock  for  foundations,  proving  to  the  citizens  of  Indiana  that 
it  is  quite  unnecessary  to  import  building  materials  from  other  States. 

Very  respectfully, 

RICHARD  OWEN, 

Assistant  State  Geologist. 

About  two  miles  north-west  of  Bloomington,  on  the  farm  and  near 
the  sulphur  spring  of  Mr.  Orchard,  a  very  shaly  limestone  dips  slightly 
to  the  south-west.  At  this  locality  a  fine  palseoniscus  was  once  found, 
which  can  now  be  seen  in  the  cabinet  of  the  University,  under  charge 
of  Prof.  "Wylie.  During  the  short  time  we  could  spend  at  this  place, 
we  were  unsuccessful  in  seeing  any  further  remains  of  fossil  fishes. 

LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

In  the  north-eastern  portion  of  this  county,  near  Heltonsville,  on  the 
head  waters  of  Leatherwood  creek,  the  junction  of  the  sub-carbonifer- 
ous or  knob  sandstone  with  the  overlying  limestones,  can  be  very  satis- 
factorily studied.  One  of  the  tunnels  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  rail- 
road, in  this  county,  also  cuts  through  a  portion  of  both. 

The  Bedford  rock  has  long  been  celebrated  for  its  excellent  qualities 
as  a  building  stone,  and  is  extensively  shipped ;  additional  localities  are 
being  opened,  and  only  require  the  liberality  of  railroad  directors  to 
furnish  switches  and  other  facilities  for  still  more  extended  sales. 


138  GEOLOGICAL   RECONNOISSANCE 


From  Mr.  Glover's  quarry,  near  town,  we  obtained  specimens  of  a 
grit  suitable  for  millstones  to  grind  corn,  although  not  so  well  adapted 
for  wheat.  It  occurs  chiefly  in  one  limited  space,  a  layer  among  the 
building-rock  strata,  silicified  probably  by  infiltration. 

At  a  quarry  one  mile  south  of  Bedford,  the  upper  layer,  for  about  18 
inches,  is  oolitic,  beneath  which  six  or  eight  feet  occur  of  a  limestone, 
that,  on  account  of  its  cracking  on  exposure,  is  rejected  by  the  quarry- 
men.  Next  below  succeed  nine  feet  of  excellent  building  stone,  which 
can  be  obtained  in  slabs  of  almost  any  desired  size.  The  same  lime- 
stone continues  for  many  feet  beneath,  rendered  visible  as  we  go  south 
on  the  railroad,  by  a  descending  grade  of  80  feet  to  the  mile ;  but  be- 
comes somewhat  bituminous,  and  has  hard  lumps  which  prevent  it  from 
being  worked.  Some  of  these  facts  were  communicated  by  Mr.  Need- 
ham,  formerly  of  the  "Dean  Marble  Quarry,"  during  our  examinations 
of  the  various  Bedford  quarries,  under  the  guidance  of  Judge  Duncan, 
of  the  State  Board,  Mr.  Stilson,  and  other  gentlemen,  who  politely  ac- 
companied us  from  town. 

In  a  cut  a  mile  and  a  half  south  of  town  we  observed  a  vertical 
space,  about  six  feet  in  width,  filled  with  beautiful  calc-spar,  in  botry- 
oidal  pendent  masses,  between  the  darker  limestones.  Beneath  this 
stratum  the  now  argillo-silicious  limestone  rock  is  broken  into  thou- 
sands of  small  fragments,  the  layers  being  contorted  and  folded,  as  if 
the  deposit  had  been  made  in  unquiet  waters  and  submitted  while  plas- 
tic to  lateral  pressure.  Still  beneath  these  strata  are  seen,  near  the 
abrupt  termination  of  the  rock,  White  river  having  here  channeled 
her  bed  through  the  limestone,  strata  richly  productal  and  bryozoic, 
with  a  layer  of  hydraulic  limestone  imbedding  gypsum  and  selenite  in 
cavities. 

This  being  nearly  two  hundred  feet  below  Bedford  must  bring  us 
very  near  the  Knob-sandstone,  which  shows  itself  not  far  distant  in  the 
tunnel  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  railroad.  Judge  Duncan's  farm, 
nearly  on  the  same  geological  horizon,  has  abundant  fine  geodes  and 
afforded  a  magnificent  slab,  now  in  the  State  collection,  about  two  feet 
long  by  twelve  to  fifteen  inches  wide,  on  which  can  be  counted  about 
140  Spirifers,  (of  the  species  striatus,)  nearly  every  one  of  which  is 
hinge  up,  arid  chiefly  with  the  valve  open,  very  much  in  the  position 
assumed  by  our  fresh-water  unios,  when  exercising  their  power  of  loco- 
motion in  wet  sand  or  mud.  This  would  appear  to  confirm  the  suppo- 
sition of  Woodward  and  others,  that  this  genus  of  Brachiopods  was 


OF   INDIANA.  139 


free  in  the  adult  state.  Several  specimens  on  this  slab  measure  two 
inches  along  the  hinge  line.  On  the  same  farm  are  Productus  tenuis- 
triatus  and  Orthis  crinistria. 

About  five  miles  from  Bedford  fine  stalactites  are  found  in  the  Pitman 
cave.  Some  of  these  we  saw  in  Dr.  Blackwell's  cabinet  at  Bedford. 
Mr.  llerscher  of  that  place  has  a  fine  collection  of  birds,  chiefly  from 
our  own  State. 

In  addition  to  the  above  items,  Judge  Duncan,  member  of  the  State 
Board  for  this  agricultural  district,  remarks:  "The  Bedford  rock  is 
shipped  on  the  railroads  and  sold  in  Louisville,  New  Albany,  LaFa- 
yette,  Indianapolis,  &c.,  and  is  unsurpassed  as  a  building  stone."  *  * 
"  Stoneware  is  manufactured  in  various  parts  of  the  District."  *  *  * 
"  The  staple  agricultural  products  are  corn,  wheat,  oats,  hay  and  tobac- 
co. Our  corn  and  hay  are  fed  to  hogs,  cattle,  horses,  sheep  and  mules. 
Our  wheat  and  tobacco  are  partly  manufactured  before  sending  to  mar- 
ket." *  *  "Nearly  all  the  varieties  of  soil  and  timber  in  the  State 
can  be  seen  in  this  District."  *  *  "  Hog  cholera  has  prevailed  in 
some  localities.  Potato  rot,  I  believe,  has  been  universal.  The  ravages 
of  insects  were  formerly  restricted  to  stone  fruit;  but  latterly  have  ex- 
tended to  the  apple.  Our  corn  crop  is  sometimes  affected  by  the  grub-< 
worm,"  (Melolonthians  or  perhaps  Agrotidse.)  "In  1858  a  great  many 
meadows  were  injured  by  the  same  pest.  I  have  heard  complaints  lat- 
terly of  the  Chinch-bug"  (Lygseus  leucopteris)  "and  also  of  a  small 
wire- worm,"  (Elateridse).  *  *  "Fevers  of  the  various  type  are  the 
most  prevalent  diseases." 

"We  walked  in  the  evening  to  Hamer's  well-known  mills,  two-and-a- 
half  miles  south-east  from  Mitchell's  Crossing,  and  found  a  large  stream 
of  water  gushing  from  under  heavy  beds  of  rock,  with  force  sufficient 
not  only  for  Mr.  Hamer's  extensive  mills,  but  also  for  many  other 
works.  By  partially  damming  this  stream  boats  have  been  rowed  some 
distance  into  the  cave,  disclosing  the  usual  subterranean  wonders.  Un- 
fortunately it  was  too  late  and  dark  to  make  a  thorough  examination, 
and  the  opportunity  we  confidently  expected  to  have  again  to  visit  this 
locality  never  presented  itself. 

The  section  on  Salt  creek,  at  the  bridge  four  miles  northerly  from 
Bedford,  has  been  spoken  of  as  finely  illustrating  the  junction  of  the 
Knob-sandstone  with  the  Cavernous  limestone.  It  is  subjoined  in  de- 
scending order: 


140 


GEOLOGICAL   RECONNOISSANCE 


Above> 

the 

g 

Soil  and  sub-soil,  (yellowish.) 

25-30 

Sea. 

3 

Limestone,  (close-grained.) 

2^ 

I 

Red  clay  and  chert. 

30-35 

Ringing  compact  limestone. 

5-6 

"03 

Red  clay  and  chert. 

15-25 

0 

Gray  penremital  limestone. 

40-45 

«j 

Oolite,  with  Euomphalus. 

20-25 

Level  of  Bedford  Court  House. 

630  ft. 

1 

Bryozoic  and  pentremital  limestone. 
Shaly  rock  and  red  clay. 
Gray  pentremital  limestone,  with  Terebratula  la- 

50-55 
10ft. 

f 

mellosa  and  Orthis  crinistria. 

25-30 

1 

White  eucrinital  limestone. 

4-6 

£§§ 

'  &X 

Gray  shales  and  solid  sandstone,  with  a  few  fossits. 

20ft. 

1]1 

Bed  of  Salt  Creek. 

Some  cases  of  milk-sickness  are  said  to  have  occurred  in  "Spice  Val- 
ley," about  ten  miles  south-west  from  Bedford. 

ORANGE  COUNTY. 

This  county  comprises  the  upper  limestones  of  the  sub-carboniferous 
series  and  the  superincumbent  ferruginous  sandstones  assigned  by  some 
to  the  same  sub-division,  and  by  other  writers  considered  a  portion  of 
the  Millstone  Grit. 

The  principal  localities  of  geological  interest  in  this  county  are  the 
places  at  which  Lost  River  disappears  and  flows  several  miles  under 
ground;  the  reappearance  of  a  large  stream,  supposed  to  be  the  same, 
near  Orangeville ;  the  quarries  from  which  grindstone  and  large  quantities 
of  the  Hindostan  whetstones  are  obtained,  also  the  noted  sulphur 
springs,  besides  several  points  at  which  the  sub-conglomerate  coal  seams 
are  exposed. 

Leaving  Orleans,  after  examining  some  specimens  collected  by  Mr. 
Elrod,  Mr.  Braun  and  others,  we  reached  the  farm  of  Mr.  Owen  Lind- 
ley,  (some  four  miles  south-west  from  town,)  who  politely  furnished  us 
some  particulars.  This  disappearance  of  Lost  River  is  in  section  11, 
township  2  north,  range  1  west;  and  the  bed  of  the  river,  here  40  to  50 
feet  wide,  was  dry  at  our  visit,  although  sometimes  it  is  over  its  banks 
eight  or  ten  feet,  as  shown  on  Jhe  trees.  A  sketch  and  section  of  this 
locality  is  subjoined. 


OF  INDIANA. 


143 


SEC.  10,  AT  LOST  RIVER  GULF,  ORANGE  COUNTY. 


60 


(a)  Chert  bed  in  loose 
masses  on  river  bank. 


(d)   Soft  Magnesian 
limestone. 


(c)  Lithostrotion 
limestone. 


Disappearance  of 
'ver. 

Subterranean  level 
near  gulf. 


50 


40 


30 


20 


10 


430 


Mr.  Lindley  informs  us  there  is  a  still  deeper  "  Gulf,"  with  some 
water  constantly  running  and  disappearing  in  a  cavity,  the  depth  of 
which  has  never  been  ascertained;  this  is  in  section  9  of  the  same  town- 
ship and  range  as  above. 

On  close  examination  of  the  bed  of  the  stream,  near  Mr.  Lindley's, 
it  seems  to  be  formed  on  the  middle  limestone  and  has  washed  at  the 
entrance  eight  to  ten  feet  deep,  leaving  overhead  the  lithostrotion  bed, 
surmounted  by  Magnesian  limestones,  shales,  &c.,  to  the  amount  of 
from  30  to  40  feet,  which  materials  have  consequently  been  washed 
away  or  have  caved  in  to  form  the  bed  of  the  river  for  some  miles  back; 
but  which  here  seemed  firm  enough  to  sustain  the  roof  of  the  natural 
tunnel. 

The  chert  scattered  abundantly  on  the  bank  is  highly  bryozoic,  and 
contains  a  fair  share  of  mollusks.  Some  of  the  lower  portions  of  the 
limestone  are  almost  lithographic.  We  were  informed  that  sightless 
fishes  had  been  found  in  the  subterranean  waters  of  these  localities. 

The  adjoining  timber  was  chiefly  Oak,  Beech,  Sugar-Tree,  Black  and 
White  Walnut,  Tulip  Tree  and  Horse  Chestnut. 


144  GEOLOGICAL   RECONNOISSANCE 

At  Orangeville  Mr.  Stackliouse  kindly  conducted  us  to  the  spot 
where  Lost  River  is  supposed  to  reappear.  A  stream  forty  or  fifty  feet 
wide  rises  quietly  from  great  depths,  apparently  from  under  a  Bird's- 
eye,  almost  lithographic  limestone,  which  we  found  surmounted,  as  we 
ascended  through  town,  by  three  other  limestone  beds,  with  their  inter- 
mediate layers  of  sandstone.  A  short  distance  below  its  emergence 
from  underground,  a  dam  is  constructed  and  a  very  valuable  water 
power  secured. 

Although  by  the  barometer,  the  stream  here  seems  considerably 
lower,  as  might  be  expected,  than  at  Lost  River  "  Gulf,"  and  there  are 
three  limestones  above,  as  there  is  a  dip  here  of  about  fifteen  feet  to  the 
mile,  this  is  probably  the  same  middle  limestone,  two  of  the  upper  form- 
ing a  twin  layer. 

The  whetstone  localities  in  this  county  are  numerous  and  important. 
The  oldest  quarries  are  in  section  5,  township  1  north,  range  2  west, 
owned  by  Mr.  Pinnick,  and  in  section  32,  township  2  north,  range  2 
west,  the  property  of  Mr.  Charles.  Mr.  Win.  IT.  Cowherd  manufac- 
tures whetstones  extensively  near  the  West  Baden  Springs;  Mr.  E. 
D.  Moore  (who  has  also  a  grindstone  quarry,  worked  by  Mr.  Pitman, 
three  miles  east  of  Huron,)  manufactures  whetstones  from  the  follow- 
ing quarries  near  him  :  Mr.  John  F.  Carter's  whetstone  quarry,  on 
section  23,  township  3  north,  range  2  west;  Mr.  Thomas  Powell's  quar- 
ry, worked  also  by  Mr.  A.  Freeman,  of  Orleans,  in  the  same  section, 
township  and  range,  nearly  three-fourths  of  a  mile  further  north.  Mr. 
Voorhees  also  quarries  whetstones  a  few  miles  from  Mr.  Moore's. 

All  of  these  whetstone  quarries  are  in  the  ferruginous  sandstones,  at 
from  40  to  100  feet  above  the  uppermost  limestone,  (a  layer  here  usu- 
ally only  a  foot  or  two  thick,)  with  Millstone  Grit,  full  of  stigmarcise, 
capping  the  ferruginous  sandstones,  about  110  to  150  feet  above  this 
thin  limestone  bed. 

At  Mr.  Pinnick's  there  are  three  whetstone  layers,  each  about  two 
feet  thick,  separated  by  aluminous  shales,  the  uppermost  layer  being  the 
finest  grit. 

At  Mr.  Carter's  a  good  many  fossil  ferns  can  be  collected,  and  we  ob- 
tained for  the  State  collection  about  three  feet  of  a  fossil  tree,  exposed 
for  some  ten  or  twelve  feet,  and  extending,  nearly  horizontally,  appa- 
rently much  further  under  the  superincumbent  mass,  which  was  too 
refractory  even  for  our  large  crow-bar.  The  tree  is  a  Lepidodendron 
(modulatum?)  two  feet  across  its  longer  diameter,  and  nine  inches 
through  the  short  diameter,  with  the  subcentral  axis  (or  pith-like  cy- 


OF  INDIANA.  145 


clindrical  bundle  of  elongated  cellular  and  vascular  tissue  assigned  by 
Brongniart  to  the  stems  of  Lycopodiaceae  or  clubmosses,  which  he  con- 
siders the  Lepidodendron  closely  to  have  resembled,)  near  the  convex  exte- 
rior, and  occupying  the  under  side,  as  the  tree  lay  in  its  bed,  somewhat 
as  represented  in  the  following  cross  section  of  this  and  a  smaller  one, 
17J  by  7  inches.  On  the  large  tree  the  scars  are  two  inches  long  from 
one  acute  angle  of  the  rhombus  to  the  other,  three-fourths  full  from  one 
obtuse  angle  to  the  other.* 

The  tree  reposes  in  a  south-east  and  north-west  direction,  with  a 
slight  dip  of  the  larger  or  supposed  root  end  in  a  north-east  direction. 

The  following  gives  the  section  at  the  quarry,  with  Millstone-Grit 
hills,  50  to  80  feet  higher,  at  no  great  distance : 


Soil  and  subsoil  ..................................................................  6-8 

Shaly  sandstone  .................................................................  2-4 

Upper  solid  whetstone  grit  .........................................  .  .......  2 

Shaly  sandstone  ..................................................................  3 

Middle  whetstone  grit  .......................................................  1J 

Shaly  sandstone  ..................................................................  1 

Lower  whetstone  grit  ...........................................................  2J 

Fire-clay  ...........................................................................       J 

Lepidodendron  layer  ...........................................................       J 

At  Mr.  T.  Powell's  quarry  the  same  three  layers  of  whetstone  are 
found,  somewhat  closer  together,  with  two  feet  or  more  of  coalf  in  the 
position  of  the  above  Lepidodendron  layer,  and  1J  feet  shales  over  the 
coal.  The  upper  and  middle  (?)  members  of  pentremital  limestone  are 
found  respectively  about  100  and  160  feet  below  the  whetstone  quarry. 
The  Hindostan  whetstones  sell,  wholesale,  at  $6.00  per  100  pounds. 

There  is  said  to  be  a  nitre  cave  near  here,  about  50  feet  lower  than 
these  quarries;  also  a  locality  rich  in  iron,  in  section  35,  township  2 

*For  this  wood  cut  see  appendix,  and  for  the  original  see  the  State  collection. 
tThe  analysis  of  one  gramme  coal  from  Mr.  Powell's  quarry  gave  — 

Volatile  matter  .....................................................................  42.6  {  ^        35?-6 


Coke. 


/  carbon       50.4 

\ash  7 


100.0 
Coke  swelled  somewhat;  ashes  whitish  gray. 


146  GEOLOGICAL   RECONNOISSANCE 

north,  range  2  west,  which  is  called  the  "  Iron  Mountain."  Beech  tim- 
ber is  very  abundant  on  the  hills  around  the  quarries. 

The  grindstone  quarry  of  Dr.  Bowles  is  in  the  sandstone  below  the 
upper  pentrinital  layer  of  limestone  which  is  here  a  few  feet  thick. 
The  best  layer  for  limestones  is  about  30  feet  above  the  middle  lime- 
stone, with  another  calcareous  stratum  still  30  or  40  feet  lower.  From 
the  region  of  the  grindstone  grit  and  above  this  middle  limestone  flows 
the  long-celebrated  sulphur  spring  known  by  the  name  of  "  French 
Lick."  Dr.  Bowles  has  fitted  up  a  Watering  Place  and  devotes  much 
t  attention  to  the  causes  and  cure  of  milk-sickness.  As  he  thinks  of 
publishing  his  view  on  the  subject,  only  a  few  of  his  remarks  will  be 
given  in  the  chapter  touching  on  this  fearful  malady. 

Near  the  spring  there  is  another  of  the  same  sulphurated  hydrogen 
character,  with  suitable  buildings,  &c.,  kept  by  Dr.  Davis,  under  the 
name  of  West  Baden  Springs.  It  is  stated  that  there  are  in  all  twelve 
sources  from  which  sulphur  water  flows  around  this  immediate  neigh- 
borhood. 

A  section  near  the  grindstone  quarry  gave  the  following : 

KEET. 

Ferruginous  sandstone,  with  whetstone  grit 110 

Upper  limestone 2-4 

Space  of  shaly  sandstone  and  grindstone  grit,  about 90 

Middle  limestone 20-30 

Space  of  red  clay,  &c 40 

Lower  limestone  at  least  50,  and  probably  more,  say 60 

Paoli,  the  capital,  is  situated  on  the  lower  and  middle  limestones ; 
the  Court  House  is  599  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea,  according  to  Col. 
Stansbury  and  Mr.  Williams. 

HARRISON  COUNTY. 

The  eastern  part  of  this  county  is  sub-carboniferous  sandstone,  the 
junction  with  the  limestone  being  about  five  or  six  miles  east  of  Cory- 
don,  the  capital  of  the  county.  On  the  western  border  the  higher  hills 
are  ferruginous  sandstones,  consequently  Harrison  embraces  nearly  all 
the  sub-carboniferous  formation. 

Portions  of  the  lower  members  we  find  so  modified  on  Indian  Creek, 
four  or  five  miles  south-west  of  Corydon,  as  to  form  a  good  lith- 
ographic stone.  Mr.  Brinkman  has  opened  a  quarry,  and,  by  rejecting 


OF  INDIANA.  147 


the  outer  and  more  shaly  rock,  has  succeeded  in  sending  for  inspection 
good  sized  slabs  entirely  free  from  any  inequalities,  and  of  a  smooth, 
even  texture.  The  stone  was  tested  at  Louisville,  and  a  good  sample 
with  the  design  of  the  Louisville  canal  and  locks  still  upon  it  can  be 
seen  in  the  State  collection,  along  with  unpolished  slabs  from  the  same 
quarry.  It  certainly  promises  so  well  as  to  be  worthy  of  a  full  devel- 
opment and  competitive  trial  in  the  markets. 

At  Corydon  we  found  stone  steps  apparently  solid  and  durable,  which 
when  first  quarried  at  Salisbury  were  so  soft  that  the  rock  could  be 
readily  cut  with  a  broad-axe. 

This  county  affords  numerous  localities  of  sub-conglomerate,  or  as  it 
might  here  be  called,  sub-pentrimital  coal ;  here,  as  almost  invariably 
throughout  nature's  work,  the  evidence  being  given  that  changes  were 
gradual  and  that  in  advance  of  the  period  developing  so  enormously 
the  heavy  beds  of  vegetable  matter  converted  afterwards  into  fossil 
fuel,  we  have  thin  deposits  anticipating  and  preparing  the  way  for  the 
true  coal  period. 

At  Mr.  Martin  Smith's,  on  section  22,  township  2  south,  range  3  east, 
there  is  another  seam  of  coal  under  the  second  limestone  in  descending 
order,  as  exhibited  in  the  following  section  : 

FEET. 

Sandstone 50 

Limestone 2-3 

Sandstone 110 

Limestone 2-4 

Thin  seam  of  coal  and  fire-clay J 

Sandstone 40 

Sandstone  and  red  clay,  at  least 60 

An  analysis  of  this  sub-conglomerate  coal  furnished  the  following  re- 
sult : 

One  gramme  gave  of 

Volatile  matter 41.5  {^  ,   ' 

I  water      10.0 

( carbon    54.5 
Coke 58-51ash  4.0 


100.0 

The  coke  did  not  swell  at  all ;  ashes  a  light,  yellowish  grey. 
On  Mr.  Asa  Rosen berger's  farm,  in  Spencer  township,  on  section  25, 
township  2  south,  range  2  east,  we  found,  as  at  Mr.  M.  Smith's,  about 


148  GEOLOGICAL   RECONNOISSANCE 

2J  inches  of  coal  under  the  second  limestone.     It  approaches  in  quality 
to  cannel,  and  the  analysis  of  one  gramme  gave: 

f#as       46.85 
Volatile  matter 48'85  {water     2.00 

(  carbon  41.15 
Coke 5L15\ash        10.00 


100.00 

The  coke  swelled  considerably;  ashes  grey  with  a  tinge  of  red. 

This  coal  is  underlaid  by  a  few  inches  of  fire-clay,  with  about  two 
feet  of  dark  roof  shales,  and  some  sulphuret  of  iron ;  then  five  to  six 
feet  of  encrinital  limestone,  surmounted  by  shaly  sandstone  and  the 
upper  bed  of  limestone. 

This  locality  is  in  Brushy  Valley,  noted  for  some  severe  cases  of  milk- 
sickness.  Buckeye,  which,  if  eaten  by  the  cattle,  produces  somewhat 
similar  symptoms,  is  very  abundant  here.  Mr.  Eosenberger's  experince 
with  this  disease  will  be  given  hereafter. 

A  thin  seam  of  coal  occurs  under  similar  circumstances  on  Mr.  Eli 
Stewart's  land,  section  31,  township  1  south,  range  2  east,  in  Orange 
county,  or  near  the  line ;  as  well  as  two  miles  south  of  that  locality  on 
section  18,  township  2  south,  range  2  east,  in  Harrison  county. 

This  county  has  numerous  fine  springs  and  water  privileges ;  from 
one  of  which  a  boy  who  was  fishing  had  just  drawn  a  Menopoma  (wa- 
ter puppy)  twenty-two  inches  long.  Near  a  mill,  owned  by  Mr.  Hiram 
Babcock,  we  obtained  a  specimen  of  hydraulic  limestone,  which  we 
have  not  yet  had  time  to  analyze.  Over  the  layer  from  which  we  ob- 
tained the  sample  is  blue  clay,  and  above  that,  chert  with  Lithostrotion 
Canadense. 

Several  localities  in  this  county  furnish  iron  ore  in  considerable  quan- 
tity. A  sample  from  the  farm  of  widow  Hoagland,  section  30,  town- 
ship 2  south,  range  3  east,  not  far  from  the  Martin  Smith  coal  seam, 
afforded  the  subjoined  result  on  analysis  : 

One-tenth  of  a  gramme  lost  by  drying  at  350  F.,  (and  then  be- 
came red,) 0.009 

Gave  of  insoluble  silicates 0.052 

Gave  of  sesqui-oxide  of  iron,  (equal  to  26.6  per  cent,  of  pure 

iron,) 0.038 

Gave  of  loss,  alkalies  and  magnesia 0.001 

0.100 


OF   INDIANA.  149 


CRAWFORD  COUNTY. 

This  county  embraces  chiefly  the  middle  and  upper  members  of  the 
sub-carboniferous  limestone  series,  giving  rise  to  a  country  somewhat 
mountainous  and  rocky  in  places,  adapting  it  more  for  sheep-pastures 
or  vine-hills,  than  arable  fields,  although  some  of  the  valleys  and  pla- 
teaus afford  good  farms. 

The  chief  object  of  attraction  in  this  county  is  the 

WYANDOT  CAYE, 

Owned  by  Mr.  H.  P.  Rothrock.  He  had  a  survey  made,  by  Dr.  D.  L. 
Talbot,  from  Jefferson ville,  of  all  the  ramifications  known  in  1853  ;  and 
the  later  discoveries  were  laid  down  by  Mr.  George  I.  Langsdale, 
From  the  map  thus  jointly  constructed,  Mr.  Rothrock  politely  permitted 
a  copy  to  be  taken,  which  is  subjoined  on  a  reduced  scale,  exhibiting  on 
the  west  the  entrance  and  main  passage,  with  its  various  names,  of  the 
Old  Cave ;  on  the  east,  the  New  Cave,  with  its  intercommunicating  pas- 
sages, some  of  which  are  dotted  to  show  that  they  pass  underneath  the 
main  cave.  Thus,  the  branch  connecting  the  "  Wild  Cat  Avenue  "  with 
"The  Little  Giant  Avenue,"  passes  under  "Calypso's  Island,"  part  of 
the  grand  trunk  in  the  New  Cave.* 

Some  years  since  I  had  the  pleasure  of  exploring  the  Mammoth  Cave, 
in  Kentucky,  and,  without  desiring  for  a  moment  to  detract  from  that 
justly  celebrated  and  admired  subterranean  wonder,  I  can  truly  state 
that  the  Wyandot  Cave  is  almost,  if  not  quite,  equally  worthy  of  a  visit 
from  the  admirers  of  fine  natural  scenery,  although  not  explored  yet  to 
the  same  extent  as  the  Mammoth. 

To  do  justice  in  description  to  the  splendid  masses  of  long,  pendent 
stalactites,  uniting  sometimes  fantastically  with  the  stalagmites  below, 
which  burst  upon  the  view  perhaps  after  worming  our  bodies  through 
an  aperture  too  small  for  overgrown  travelers,  or  after  safely  passing 
the  "Dead  Fall,"  whose  disturbance  and  displacement  might  forever 
cut  off  all  return  to  light  and  life,  furnishing  a  sepulchral  catacomb  in- 
finitely greater,  in.  the  extent  of  its  ramifications,  than  the  wonderful 
and  massive  structures  of  art,  the  vaunted  mausolean  pyramids  of  Egyp- 
tian despots ;  to' describe  fully  the  brilliance  reflected,  even  by  torch  light, 
from  fluted  columns  of  satin-spar,  (carbonate  of  lime)  35  feet  high  and 
72  in  circumference,  forming  the  "  Pillar  of  the  Constitution,"  and  simi- 

*See  Appendix. 


150  GEOLOGICAL  RECONNOISSANCE 

lar  scenes,  would  require  a  power  of  language,  which  at  best  would 
feebly  shadow  forth  the  reality.  To  place  on  canvas  the  full  grandeur 
of  "Monument  Mountain,"  enshrining  on  its  summit  a  semblance  of 
"Lot's  wife,"  the  whole  vaulted,  by  the  crumbling  of  the  Magnesian 
limestone,  into  an  arch  245  feet  from  the  proper  floor  of  the  cave,  and 
studded  on  its  oolitic  summit  with  calcareous  icicles,  which  seemed  to 
form  the  gothic  architectural  pendants  of  this  "Wallace's  Grand  Dome," 
to  paint  all  this  might  furnish  subject  for  a  Eembrandt ;  but  a  few  rapid 
outline  sketches  were  all  we  could  hope  to  carry  away  as  remembrancers. 

The  numerous  Indian  relics,  in  the  shape  of  charred  remnants  of  fires, 
part  of  the  wood  yet  unconsumed,  portions  of  bark,  which  had  evi- 
dently served  as  torches,  sticks  broken  and  never  cut,  skeletons  of  sev- 
eral wild  animals,  and  the  like,  would  furnish  materials,  if  the  facts 
were  carefully  collected,  valuable  to  our  archaeologists,  or  to  the  histo- 
rian, who  desires  to  preserve  all  evidence  bearing  on  the  manners  and 
customs  of  the  Aborigenes. 

To  the  entomologist,  or  investigator  of  specific  modifications  pro- 
duced by  external  causes,  the  sightless  crickets  here,  in  connection  with 
the  blind  fish  and  crawfish  of  the  Mammoth  Cave,  might  furnish  spec- 
ulation and  argument. 

Leaving,  however,  the  scenic  and  historical  description  to  others,  our 
aim  was  directed  to  obtaining  the  barometrical  measurements,  at  the 
important  points,  noting  the  lithological  character  of  roof,  floor  and 
side  walls,  and  to  the  securing  of  occasionanal  palreontologieal  or  min- 
eralogical  specimens  for  the  State  collection. 

The  results  of  the  observations  made  inside  the  old  cave,  then  in  the 
new  cave,  and  afterwards  on  the  hill  which  surmounts  both  outside, 
are  briefly  subjoined,  referring  the  heights  to  low  water  in  Big  Blue 
river. 

Mr.  Rothrock's  house  is  30  feet  above  low  water  in  Big  Blue  river, 
and  at  about  120  feet  above  the  river  we  entered  the  old  cave,  by  the 
only  external  opening  yet  discovered  to  these  subterranean  wonders. 
Descending  in  the  old  cave  to  Pigmy  Dome,  the  floor  of  which  is  ten 
feet  lower  than  the  cave  entrance,  we  found  an  abundant  efflorescence 
of  Epsom  Salts,  sometimes  quarter  of  an  inch  thick,  and  calcareous 
tufa  in  botryoidal  form.  The  filtration  of  water,  and  the  washing  out 
of  the  more  soluble  ingredients  from  the  rock,  had  here  riddled  the 
dolomite  roof  until  it  resembled  honey  comb,  and  hollowed  out  side-ap- 
ertures, which  might  have  passed  for  a  dove-cote. 

At  "Odd  Fellows' Hall,"  after  passing  "Lucifer's  Gorge,"  the  "Nat- 


^v 

OF  THE  A 

UNIVERSITY  1 
SAUK 


10 


OF  INDIANA.  153 


ural  Bridge,"  and  Rothro.ck's  straits,  which  lead  to  the  New  Cave,  the 
roof,  20  feet  higher  than  the  Old  Cave  entrance,  is  silico-magnesian 
limestone,  with  fibrous  gypsum,  underlaid  by  more  crystalline  limestone. 

"Jolter's  Hole"  afforded  fine  specimens  of  alabaster  and  selenite,  be- 
sides some  calc-spar.  Ascending  to  "  Spade's  Cliffs,"  we  found  bastard 
limestone  overhead,  and  abundant  remnants  of  encrinital  stems,  as  well 
as  corals  of  the  family  Cyathophyllidee. 

Descending  to  "Talbott's  Pit,"  30  feet  below  the  cave  entrance, 
magnificent  stalactites  and  stalagmites  greeted  the  view,  which,  on  as- 
cending 50  feet,  to  the  further  end  of  "  Spade's  Cliffs,"  was  gloomed  by 
the  myriads  of  bats,  clustering  on  each  other  like  bees,  and  hanging 
head  downwards  from  the  ceiling. 

On  reaching  the  "  Dead  Fall,"  we  secured  samples  of  oolitic  lime- 
stone; and,  after  passing  through  the  narrow  aperture  denominate 
"The  Screw  Hole,"  were  rewarded  by  emerging  into  the  very  capacious 
amphitheatre  to  which  very  appropriately  the  name  of  the  "Senate 
Chamber"  has  been  given,  while  a  somewhat  central  stalacto-stalag- 
mitic  union  forms  a  natural  "  Chair  of  State."  Facing  the  "  Senate 
Chamber,"  or  in  fact  forming  pillars  which  a  slight  stretch  of  the  im- 
agination might  consider  the  columns  of  galleries,  common  in  public 
buildings  for  deliberative  purposes,  we  find  a  structure  which,  from  a 
fresh  fracture,  reflects  light  with  the  splendor  of  satin,  and  which  effer- 
vesces freely  with  acids.  Although  breaking  usually  into  prismatic 
specimens,  the  longitudinal  section  thus  obtained  exhibits  numerous  and 
delicate  horizontal  layers  of  successive  deposition,  sometimes  slightly 
tinged  with  grey,  but  more  generally  of  a  dazzling  pearly  whiteness. 
Although  generally  the  cave  is  dry,  here  sufficient  water  trickles  into  a 
natural  excavation  of  the  pillar,  to  refresh  the  weary  traveler. 

Of  this  locality  we  endeavored  to  give  some  idea  by  the  foregoing 
sketch. 

It  is  within  about  ten  feet  of  being  on  a  level  with  the  entrance  to 
the  cave,  and  terminates  the  "Old  Cave"  avenue,  in  "Pluto's  Ravine," 
three  miles  from,  the  mouth. 

Retracing  our  steps  as  far  as  "Banditti  Hall,"  only  50  feet  above  the 
river,  and  consequently  at  least  100  feet  lower  than  the  Old  Cave  en- 
trance, the  secret  door  was  unlocked,  and  we  glided  on  our  backs,  feet 
foremost,  down  an  inclined  plane,  over  earth  and  rubbish,  at  the  immi- 
nent risk  of  breaking  the  Aneroid  Barometer;  and,  passing  "Bats' 
Lodge,"  stood  again  erect  in  the  Counterfeiter's  Trench,  which  had 
been  artificially  excavated  to  prevent  the  necessity  of  constant  stooping 


154  GEOLOGICAL   RECONNOISSANCE 

in  this  passage  to  the  main  avenue  of  the  ~New  Cave.  Here,  when  it 
was  first  explored,  were  found  the  remains  of  Indian  fires,  supposed  to 
have  been  kindled  when  the  cave  was  the  resort  of  the  Wyandot  tribe, 
hence  the  name  given  to  it.  Perhaps,  when  at  war  with  other  tribes, 
they  may  have  resorted  to  these  subterranean  hiding  places  for  safety  or 
strategy.  The  charred  remains  exhibited  White  Oak,  Hickory,  Sassa- 
fras and  Papaw,  with  numerous  detachad  pieces  of  hickory  bark,  charred 
at  one  end,  as  if  used  for  torches.  Scores  of  dead  bats  were  strewed 
around;  and  the  skeleton  of  an  Opossum  and  of  a  "Wild  Cat,"  to 
each  of  which  portions  of  hair  and  skin  adhered,  were  among  the  rel- 
ics. 

Near  the  "  Rotunda/*'  we  found  large  quantities  of  Epsom  salts,  often 
as  an  efflorescence  from  the  Magnesian  limestone,  and  in  "  Coon's  Coun- 
cil Chamber,"  fine  samples  of  black  flinty  rock,  usually  in  bands  4  to  5 
inches  thick,  but  sometimes  in  concentric  layers  of  filtration  and  depo- 
sition, that  gave  the  appearance  of  knots  in  pine  wood.  This  rock 
seems  to  partake  of  the  character  of  Lydian  stone,  or  flinty  Jasper, 
while  the  intermediate  layers  are  silico-calcareous,  overlying  the  yellow 
Magnesian  limestone  that  furnishes  the  sulphate  of  Magnesia. 

The  "Dining  Room,"  upon  measurement,  proved  nearly  a  hundred 
feet  long  by  45  wide,  and  afforded  good  samples  of  Selenite.  In  the 
"  Sandy  Plains,"  formed  by  the  disintegration  of  the  silico-magnesian 
limestone,  acicular  crystals  of  Epsom  salts  are  abundantly  diffused. 
Here  also  a  Papaw  pole  was  found  broken  off;  no  evidences  of  cutting 
visible  on  any  of  the  wood  found;  but  the  bark  on  some  was  gnawed 
by  animals,  apparently  rodents.  From  this  point,  which  appeared  to 
be  only  sixty  feet  above  Big  Blue,  we  passed  over  the  "  Hill  of  Diffi- 
culty," formed  chiefly  of  decomposing  dolomitic  rock,  to  "Mammoth 
Hall,"  which  has  a  roof  stratum  of  Oolite.  This  great  natural  excava- 
tion contains  the  "Monument  Mountain,"  of  which  we  subjoin  a  sketch 
designed  to  show  "  Lot's  Wife,"  a  pyramidal  mass  of  gradually  aspir- 
ing stalagmite,  not,  however,  so  darkly  tinged  as  the  noted  "  Gibraltar 
Rock,"  of  similar  origin,  from  Spain. 

Descending  to  the  "  augur  hole,"  we  found  clear  sulphur  water,  showing 
the  yellowish  white  deposit  beneath  in  a  small  natural  rock-basin. 

Although,  much  beyond  this  place,  objects  of  undoubted  interest 
tempted  exploration,  and  some  avenues  have  never  yet  been  traced  out, 
more  immediate  geological  interests  having  already  been  subserved,  and 
time  passing  rapidly,  we  returned  from  this  point,  in  order  to  examine 
the  hill  outside. 


V,,' 


OF    INDIANA.  157 


The  upper  hundred  feet  were  found  composed  of  ferruginous  sand- 
stone, namely,  from  about  280  to  380  feet  above  "  Big  Blue."  Then 
descending,  we  found  a  few  feet  of  Bastard  limestone,  then  50  feet  of 
crystalline,  40  feet  of  flinty,  and  finally  a  few  feet  of  compact  limestone; 
talus  covering  nearly  all  below  this  from  view,  a  space  of  about  180 
feet  above  the  river.  Beds  of  Cherty  Limestone  were  exceedingly 
abundant,  with  numerous  Bryozoa,  near  our  camp,  which  stood  on  a 
plateau  about  40  feet  above  the  river,  and  fragments  of  chert  showed 
themselves  often  between  this  point  and  the  mouth  of  the  Old  Cave. 
In  the  bed  of  Big  Blue,  and  up  to  nearly  the  level  of  Mr.  Rothrock's 
house,  magnificent  specimens  of  Lithostrotion  Canadense  are  scattered 
about,  some  weighing  over  fifty  pounds. 

The  Sibert  Cave,  a  short  distance  from  the  Wyandot,  although  not 
extensive  comparatively,  is  yet  more  replete  with  splendid  stalactites 
and  stalagmites,  often  uniting  to  form  pillars,  along  galleries,  extending 
for  several  hundred  yards,  and  not  yet  fully  explored.  It  is  not  so  dry 
as  the  Wyandot,  but  some  of  the  more  slippery  chasms  have  already 
been  bridged.  It  is  well  worthy  a  visit  from  the  traveler  fond  of  adven- 
ture and  remarkable  scenery.  . 

For  convenience  of  reference  and  comparison  with  the  map,  the  most 
important  distances,  and  heights,  widths,  &c.,  in  the  Wyandot  Cave,  are 
here  recapitulated  in  tabular  form : 

DISTANCES.  MILKS. 

Length  of  "Old  Cave," 3 

To  Monument  Mountain li 

From  Augur  Hole  to  Junction 1J 

Thence  to  Crawfish  Spring IJ 

To  end  of  "Wabash  avenue 1J 

From  Sandy  Plain  to  the  Throne li 

Thence  to  the  end  of  Southern  Avenue 1J 

From  Amphitheatre,  south I 

From  Mound  to  Junction  room I 

All  other  avenues,  about 6 

Total  as  far  as  explored  in  1853 19 

From  the  south-western  to  the  extreme  north-eastern  limits,  about  9 
miles.  The  exact  distances  in  the  New  Cave  were  not  furnished,  but 
can  readily  be  approximately  obtained  from  the  map. 


158  GEOLOGICAL  RECONNOISSANCE 

WIDTH  AND  HEIGHT.  FKET. 

Greatest  width  at  any  point  in  "  Old  Cave,"  about  .....................  180 

Greatest  height,  (varying  from  2J  to  100)  about  ..........................  100 

Average  height,  about  ...........................................................     20 

In  "New  Cave,"  greatest  breadth  ............................................  300 

Height  in  "New  Cave,"  from  3  to  ........................  ,  ..................  245 

Which  is  the  height  of  Wallace's  Grand  Dome  above  the  proper  floor 
of  the  Cave* 

TEMPERATURE.  —  The  thermometer  indicates  usually,  at  different  points, 
a  variation  of  from  54°  F.  to  57°;  but  at  the  mouth  of  the  New 
Cave  it  was  noticed  by  us  as  low  as  52°  F.  on  May  28,  1860.  A  strong, 
cool  current  of  air  rushes  out  of  the  Cave  in  summer,  as  at  the  Mam- 
moth Cave,  Ky.;  and  the  same  capability  of  continuous  exercise  with- 
out fatigue,  so  frequently  observed  by  visitors  in  the  latter,  is  here  also 
remarked. 

The  Wyandot  Cave  is  in  Sec.  17,  T.  3  S.,  R.  2  E.,  and  can  be  reached 
by  a  few  miles  travel  from  the  Ohio,  or  by  way  of  Cory  don,  Harrison 
county. 

The  growth  of  timber  around  the  Cave  is  Buckeye,  Sugar  Tree, 
Beech,  Cedar,  Oak,  Tulip  Tree,  Hickory  and  Sassafras. 

This  county  is  also  noted  for  the  beautiful  oolitic  limestone,  furnished 
at  the  capital,  Levenworth,  and  other  localities,  both  for  building  pur- 
poses, and  for  the  purest  quality  of  white  lime;  an  intermediate  layer 
of  sandstone  at  the  Fredonia  bluff  is  used  extensively  in  Loussville,  at 
the  gas  works. 

Sub-conglomerate  coal  shows  itself  at  several  places,  particularly  at 
Mr.  Houghton's,  OD  Sec.  32,  T.  3  S.,  E.  2  E.,  and  near  the  Levenworth 
graveyard,  where  5  inches,  with  fire  clay  and  sandstone  shales,  show 
themselves  below  the  2d  Archimedes  limestone,  or  member  "B  "  of  the 
upper  sub-  carboniferous  limestone,  which  here  exhibited  abundance  of 
Productus  shells  and  Pentremites. 

The  analysis  of  a  gramme  of  Mr.  Houghton's  sub-conglomerate  coal 
gave: 

rgas         30.3 
Volatile  matter  ............................................  39-3{water        9.0 

f  carbon    48.7 
60'7tash         12.0 


100.0 
Coke  scarcely  altered  in  appearance;  ashes  red. 


OF   INDIANA.  159 


The  same  quantity  of  coal  from  near  the  Levenworth  graveyard, 
afforded,  on  analysis,  the  following  results : 

f  gas         29.0 
Volatile  matter 4a°\ water     11.0 

f  carbon    40.0 
60-°|ash         20.0 


100.0 
Coke  did  not  alter  its  appearance  by  burning;  ashes  reddish  grey. 

Between  the  Levenworth  and  Houghton  localities  for  sub-conglom- 
erate coal,  we  obtained,  at  "Dry  Run,"  a  section  extending  through 
nearly  two  hundred  feet  of  sub-carboniferous  limestone,  thus : 

FEET. 

Red  soil,  subsoil  and  shaly  limestone 40 

Limestone 2 

Yellow,  grey  and  blue  shales 15 

Sandstone 20 

Solid  limestone., 30 

Shaly  limestone 10 

Buff  limestone 25 

Impure  sandstone  and  shales 10 

Limestone 10 

Calcareo-aluminous  sandstone 6 

Shaly  limestone 2 

Solid  limestone 10 

Aluminous  sandstone 5 

Limestone o 

Sandstone 4 

Level  of  Dry  Run 0 

Several  remarkable  springs  issue  from  under  the  cavernous  limestone 
in  this  county,  one  of  which  is  said  to  be  yet  unfathomed,  and  samples 
from  some  limestone  layers  near  there  were  furnished  us  for  analysis, 
as  hydraulic. 

Iron  ore  is  found  at  Mr.  Lambdin's,  near  Mt.  Prospect,  in  consider- 
able quantities,  and  one  sample  of  lead  ore  was  given  us  from  this 
county.  Milk- sickness  is  prevalent  in  portions  hereafter  alluded  to. 


160  GEOLOGICAL  RECONNOISSANCE 


SEC.  VI.— COUNTIES  IN  THE  COAL  MEASURES. 

The  valuable  and  interesting  report  of  Prof.  Leo  Lesquereux,  giving 
the  details  of  most  of  our  coal  counties  and  identifying  the  stratigraphy 
of  th-e  beds,  renders  it  unnecessary  for  me  to  do  more,  under  this  head, 
than  to  give  the  analysis  of  the  coals,  as  far  as  examined,  and  some  de- 
tails regarding  subjects  in  the  same  counties  not  strictly  connected  with 
coal  examinations,  as  also  a  few  observations  in  counties  of  the  Coal 
Measures,  which  time  did  not  permit  the  Professor  to  reach. 

SUB-SECTION  1. — GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. — Although,  as  noticed  in  the 
preceding  section,  sub-conglomerate  coals,  which  in  some  instances 
elsewhere  have  proved  valuable  workable  seams,  are  found  in  Harrison, 
Crawford,  Orange  and  Putnam,  yet  in  the  Coal  Measures  proper,  we 
include  only  the  deposits  found  above  the  Millstone  Grit,  in  the  coun- 
ties of  Warren,  Fountain,  Parke,  Vermillion,  Clay,  Vigo,  Owen,  Green, 
Sullivan,  Martin.  Daviess,  Knox,  Dubois,  Pike,  Gibson,  Perry,  Spencer, 
Warrick,  Vanderburgh  and  Posey.  In  the  eastern  parts  of  a  few  of 
these,  the  sub-carboniferous  limestone  is  found ;  but  in  all  of  them  coal 
is  worked  more  or  less,  and  in  some  quite  extensively. 

SUB-SECTION  2. — THE  RESULTING  SOIL,  &c. — The  disintegration  of  sand- 
stones in  the  Coal  Measures  is  not  calculated  to  produce  the  best  soils  ; 
but  as  the  deposition  of  limestones,  of  various  thicknesses,,  during  this 
period  was  frequent,  and  as  many  parts  of  the  formation  are  in  the  river 
bottoms  or  on  prairies,  there  is  thus  often  a  modification,  which  fur- 
nishes very  fair  or  even  highly  superior  farming  lands,  as  will  be  ob- 
served in  the  several  details.  Indeed  part  of  these  counties  furnish  the 
vast  quantities  of  Indian  corn,  which  emanate  in  flat-boats  by  fleets  from 
the  Wabash,  arid  for  which  a  somewhat  large  proportion  of  arenaceous 
materials  is  by  no  means  objectionable.  The  Wabash  and  White  river 
bottoms,  as  well  as  some  of  the  adjoining  prairies,  are  of  the  above 
sandy -loam  character,  with  occasionally  large  amounts  of  organic  mat- 
ter as  proved  by  reference  to  the  analysis  of  soils  from  the  farms  of 
Uon.  G.  D.  Wagner  and  of  Hon.  J.  D.  Williams. 

SUB  SECTION  3. — QUARRIES,  &c. — Many  of  the  sandstones  of  the  Coal 
Measures  furnish  an  excellent  freestone  for  building  materials,  and  the 
intercalations  of  limestone  are  sufficient  to  furnish,  in  most  of  the 
counties  of  this  formation,  materials  suitable  to  burn  into  lime.  In  the 
ciicire  3,234  feet  of  Coal  Measures  belonging  to  the  Eastern  or  Apala- 
chian  field,  as  given  in  the  excellent  Manual  of  Coal,  by  Dr.  J.  P.  Les- 


OF  INDIANA.  161 


ley,  there  are  nine  limestones,  varying  from  eight  to  seventy  feet  in 
thickness,  and  in  the  connected  section  from  the  Kentucky  report, 
somewhat  modified  by  Mr.  Lesquereux,  for  Indiana,  and  subjoined  with 
this  report,  an  equal  number  of  limestones  present  themselves,  besides 
two  or  three  thinner  beds  of  calcareous  deposition.  They  are  more 
prevalent  with  the  higher  than  the  lower  coals. 

Quarries  of  one  or  the  other  materials  are  opened  extensively  in  sev- 
eral counties,  which  will  be  noticed  in  giving  their  details.  Excellent 
potter's  and  fire-clays  will  also  be  found  enumerated  in  describing  the 
resources  of  the  separate  counties. 

SUB-SECTION  4. — METALLIC  ORES,  &c. — A  few  localities  in  the  Indiana 
Coal  Measures  afford  indications  of  zinc  ore  which  may  on  further  ex- 
amination prove  sufficiently  abundant  to  be  workable.  At  least  one 
county  has,  associated  with  the  zinc  ore,  an  important  admixture  of  co- 
balt ore,  well  worthy  of  detailed  examination,  and  accurate  qualitative 
analysis. 

The  edge  of  the  coal  field  is  our  great  dependence  for  workable  iron 
ore,  and  as  might  be  expected  we  find  it  in  several  counties  as  mention- 
ed in  the  detailed  descriptions. 

SUB-SECTION  5. — PREVALENT  TIMBER  AND  OTHER  VEGETATION. — The 
growth  of  timber  in  this  formation  is  very  various;  but  perhaps  there 
is  in  the  uplands  rather  greater  predominance  of  Oak  and  proportion- 
ately less  Beech  than  in  the  other  systems.  Our  Indiana  prairies  are 
chiefly  in  the  Coal  Measures,  especially  those  of  Warren,  Fountain, 
Yigo,  Sullivan  and  Knox. 

SUB- SECTION  6. — SPRINGS  AND  ARTESIAN  WELLS. — Much  of  the  water 
is  hard  from  the  presence  of  the  limestones  above  noticed ;  sulphur 
springs  not  unfrequently  occur  from  filtration  through  coal  charged 
with  sulphurous  combinations,  and  chalybeates  also  are  found.  Some 
wells  and  springs,  analyzed,  afforded  a  most  unusual  amount  of  alumi- 
na, particularly  in  regions  of  milk-sickness. 

The  favorable  positions  for  successful  salt-boring,  are  alluded  to  in 
Mr.  Lesquereux's  report,  and  the  well-known  Artesian  boring  at  La- 
Fayette,  not  far  from  the  edge  of  the  field,  added  to  the  fact  of  the 
strata  all  inclining  to  the  central  coal  field,  render  the  theoretical  proba- 
bilities encouraging  for  similar  attempts. 

SUB- SECTION  7. — MISCELLANEOUS  FACTS,  &c. — In  regions  of  the  Coal 
Measures,  where  aluminous  shales  are  abundant,  milk-sickness  is  apt 
to  be  found,  as  well  as  when  those  prevail  in  other  geological  forma- 
tions ;  an  important  fact,  frequently  alluded  to  by  my  late  brother,  and 


I  62  GEOLOGICAL  RECONNOISSANCE 

which  he  intended  to  fully  elucidate  in  this  report.     In  a  subsequent 
chapter  the  subject  will  be  again  brought  up. 

SUB-SECTION  8. — CHARACTERISTIC  FOSSILS. — Among  the  numerous  coal 
plants,  so  characteristic  of  this  period,  as  to  furnish  by  specific  difference, 
data  for  the  determination  of  successive  beds  of  the  coal  deposit,  only 
some  of  the  most  common  will  be  here  enumerated,  reserving  a  more 
extended  list  for  subsequent  remarks ;  this  remark  applies  also  to  the 
other  fossils,  chiefly  mollusks  and  fishes. 

Fossils  of  Coal  Measures: 

Ferns :    Neuropteris, 

Pecopteris  arborescens, 

Lepidodendron  modulatum, 

L.  vetustum  ? 

Psaronius, 

Sigillaria  reniformis, 

Stigmaria, 

Syringodendron  pachy  derma, 

Calamites, 

Asterophyllites, 

Sphenophyllum  Schlotheimii, 

Besides  the  trunks  ot  trees  formerly  described  by  Lyell 

and  others,  as  Palm  trees. 
Foramenifera :  Fusuliuia  cylindrica. 

Corals :  Chsetetes  milleporaceus,  (Edwards  and  Haime,)  Kewburg. 
Crinoids  : 

Mollusks :  Spirifer  attenuatus, 
Patella, 
Mytilus, 

Ambonychia  Grayvillensis, 
Productus  Providensis, 
Nautilus  ferratus, 
Sp.  cameratus  ? 
Several  species  of  the  genera, 
Pleurotomaria, 
Bellerophon, 
Dentalium, 
Macrocheilus, 
Pecten,  Pinna. 


OF  INDIANA.  163 


Also  a  Palseoniscus, 

Sharks  teeth  very  abundant,  and  Ichthyodorulites. 

SUB-SECTION  9. — SOME  DETAILS  OF  EACH  COUNTY  IN  THIS  FORMATION  : 
WAKREN  COUNTY. 

Mr.  Lesquereux,  as  stated  in  his  report,  having  only  the  opportunity 
to  examine,  on  his  way  to  Illinois,  to  a  small  extent,  the  formation 
around  Wiiliamsport,  a  few  observations  made  by  our  corps  in  Warren 
county,  under  the  valuable  guidance  of  Mr.  Wagner,  then  President  of 
the  State  Board,  are  here  subjoined. 

At  Independence  the  sub-carboniferous  limestone,  with  Bryozoa  and 
Productus  punctatus,  is  represented,  by  its  upper  member  of  three 
feet  in  thickness,  near  high-water  mark  in  the  Wabash,  thickening  to 
five  feet,  and  becoming  cherty  a  short  distance  below  town,  with  over- 
lying sandstone.  The  same  calcareous  bed  still  shows  itself  at  Williams- 
port,  overlaid  by  a  sandstone  which  rises  gradually  twenty-five  feet  to 
form  the  plateau  on  which  the  hotel  and  central  portion  of  the  town 
are  built.  Main  street  passes,  by  a  moderate  grade,  over  seventy  to 
seventy-five  feet  of  ferruginous  sandstone  and  cuts,  ten  feet  through 
'  the  hill,  exposing  about  six  feet  of  sub-conglomerate  coal  shales.  A 
few  rods  west,  in  sinking  a  well,  these  coal  shales  furnished  several 
inches  of  coal.  The  adjoining  hills  are,  by  quaternary  deposits  on  the 
above  strata,  elevated  upon  an  average  150  feet. 

The  Millstone  Grit  is  finely  developed  at  various  places  in  the  county, 
forming  fine  bluffs  of  from  30  to  75  feet  on  Kickapoo,  on  "  Little  Pine," 
and  forming  the  picturesque  falls  of  Fall  creek,  near  the  railroad,  back 
of  Wiiliamsport. 

Coal  shows  itself  at  many  places  on  "Big  Pine"  and  elsewhere  in 
the  county.  Politely  conducted  by  Mr.  Knaur,  we  saw,  at  two  locali- 
ties, a  two  foot  seam  on  "Mud-Pine  Creek,"  a  branch  of  Big  Pine,  with 
fire-clay  underneath,  several  feet  of  aluminous  shales  over,  and  30  to  60 
feet  of  quaternary  superstratification.  These  are  on  sections  19  and  20, 
township  23  north,  range  8  west.  A  mile  and  a  half  further  south  is  a 

*Fromthis  stratum  of  limestone  were  obtained  the  casts  of  a  Productus  and  Spirifer,  ap- 
parently Productus  punctatus,  and  perhaps  Spirifer  incressatus  of  Eichwald,  although  from 
the  prolonged  hinge-line  more  like  the  Spirifer  increbescens  of  Hall,  from  the  Kaskaskia 
limestone,  yet  apparently  differing  in  having  the  folds  obliterated  or  lacking  on  the  mesial 
lobe,  which  is  very  strongly  marked  with  lines  of  increase. 


164  GEOLOGICAL    RECONNOISSANCE 

coal  bed  three  feet  thick,  overlaid  by  shales  of  sandstone,  with  a  coarse 
sandstone  thirty  feet  thick,  showing  itself  somewhat  further  down  the 
creek,  which  appeared  to  be  Millstone  Grit.  The  edge  of  the  coal 
basin  exhibits  in  its  coarse  sandstone  a  dip  S.  and  S.  S.  W.,  sometimes 
amounting  to  45°,  with  twenty  feet  of  sandstone  unconformably  over  it, 
having  scarcely  any  preceptible  inclination  to  the  horizon. 

Near  Burr's  Mill,  on  Big  Pine,  some  coal  shows  itself,  overlaid  by 
hard  shales  and  a  thin  limestone,  which  coal  seam  a  mile  from  there 
augments  to  three  feet  in  thickness,  and  is  worked  by  stripping,  through 
the  enterprise  of  Mr.  Butts  and  others. 

One  gramme  of  this  coal  afforded,  on  coking,  &c.,  the  following  re- 
sult: 

f  gas          40.0 

Volatile  matter 45.0^  rA 

t  water        o.U 

( carbon    40.0 
Uoke 55'°  lashes      15.0 


100.0 

Swelled  but  little  in  coking;  ashes  dark  grey. 

Half  a  mile  south  of  this,  Mr.  Kiester  is  drifting  into  the  bluff  and 
propping  the  ten  to  fifteen  feet  of  aluminous  shales  and  shaly  sand- 
stones, so  as  to  take  out  in  wheelbarrows,  or  trunks,  the  product  of  the 
three-foot  coal  deposit.     No  limestone  showed  itself  here. 
The  analysis  gave  : 

( gas          40.0 
Volatile  matter 42'°  {  water        2.0 

f  carbon    51.5 
Coke 58-°     ashes        6.5 


1000 

Coke  swelled  a  little;  ashes  light  colored. 

These  proprietors  sell  their  coal  chiefly  to  blacksmiths  for  eight  cents 
per  bushel  at  the  bank. 

We  heard  of  other  coal  openings  six  miles  north  of  the  above,  also 
one  eight  miles  south -west  of  Williamsport,  said  to  be  better  than  those 
we  saw. 

The  rock  quarried  abundantly  in  this  county  and  Fountain,  exten- 
sively used  and  proved  to  be  durable  in  bridge  piers,  foundations  of 
warehouses,  exposed  to  alternate  wet  and  dry  conditions,  can  be  had  at 
Mr.  Hayne's  quarry ;  also  half-way  between  Williamsport  and  Attica 


OF    INDIANA.  165 


are  several  fine  bluffs  near  the  Wabash,  to  which  the  distance  is  so 
short  and  the  descent  so  gradual,  as  to  promise  a  good  result  from  the 
laying  of  a  track  to  facilitate  delivery  in  increased  quantities.  This 
close-grained  sandstone  has  sufficient  admixture  of  calcareous  ingre- 
dients to  effervesce  slightly  with  acids.  These  quarries  seem  to  occupy 
the  place  of  the  grindstone  and  whetstone  grits  in  Orange  county. 

The  agricultural  prospects  of  the  country  can  be  judged  of,  by  exam- 
ining the  analysis  furnished  in  Dr.  Peter's  report  of  soils  taken  from 
Hon.  G.  D.  Wagner's  farm,  adjoining  a  grove  of  Hickory,  Bur  Oak, 
"Walnut,  Grey  Ash,  Buckeye,  Red  Elm,  Cherry,  Sassafras  and  some 
Black  Jack  Oak,  with  an  undergrowth  of  Hazel,  Elder-bushes  and  lied 
Bud  ;  and  also  from  seeing  the  splendid  cattle  that  graze  throughout  the 
country. 

From  the  adjoining  farm  of  Mr.  Wagner,  Sen.,  we  obtained  a  sample 
of  Bog  Iron  ore  for  analysis.  Other  iron  ores  are  reported  at  several 
points,  especially  near  Pine  Village ;  chalybeate  springs  are  very  com- 
mon. 

A  remarkable  belt  of  bowlders  and  other  quaternary  Drift,  passing 
from  Parrish's  Grove,  in  a  south-easterly  direction  through  the  county, 
will  be  noticed  hereafter. 

At  a  digging  made  by  Mr.  Robert  Pierson  for  lead,  we  found  a  con- 
siderable amount  of  sulphuret  of  zinc,  which  may  have  cobalt  asso- 
ciated with  it,  as  in  Fountain  county. 

Some  milk-sickness  is  reported  as  existing  in  timbered  portions  of  the 
county. 

FOUNTAIN  AND  PARKE  COUNTIES. 

Dr.  Bigelow  kindly  piloted  me  to  a  coal  opening  two  and  a  half  miles 
south  of  Attica,  not  now  worked.  Among  the  materials  thrown  out 
were  pieces  of  silicious  limestone  containing  sulphuret  of  zinc,  asso- 
ciated with  which  Mr.  E.  T.  Cox,  of  the  Arkansas  Survey,  to  whom  its 
qualitative  analysis  had  been  assigned,  detected  notable  quantities  of 
cobalt,  which  probably,  upon  further  examination  and  development, 
may  prove  of  considerable  commercial  importance. 

The  building  rock,  described  in  speaking  of  the  quarries  of  Warren 
county,  is  worked  extensively  at  the  prosperous  town  of  Attica,  and 
shipped  usually  under  the  name  of  the  Attica  stone.  The  beautiful 
bluffs  or  cliffs  near  town  we  regretted  not  having  time  to  visit. 

Mr.  Lesquereux  has  so  fully  discussed  the  Coal  Measures  of  Fountain 
county,  that  I  have  only  to  add  a  few  localities  seen  at  another  time. 


166  GEOLOGICAL   BECONNOISSANCE 

Near  Mr.  Scott's  old  diggings,  (which,  as  nearly  as  could  be  ascertained 
in  the  absence  of  the  proprietors,  is  either  on  section  6,  township  18 
north,  range  8  west,  or  on  section  1,  township  18  north,  range  9  west,) 
Mr.  Kipple  and  Mr.  Mesner  are  working  a  four  and  a  half  to  five  feet 
seam  tolerably  extensively,  on  land  belonging  to  Mr.  Woods.  The  roof 
of  this  coal  bank  is  a  bluish  "  soapstone,"*  the  floor  alight  colored  fire- 
clay. 

East  of  Mr.  Thomas',  on  Coal  creek,  are  other  openings  not  yet  vis- 
ited. 

The  coal  of  Mr.  Thomas,  near  Lodiville,  furnished  on  analysis  of  one 
gramme : 

( gas          37.0 
Volatile  matter 45-°|water       8.0 

f  carbon    51.5 
55'°{ashes        4.5 


100.0 

Sandstone  is  quarried  abundantly  near  Covington,  the  capital  of 
Fountain ;  and  the  town  displays  a  handsome  Court  House  and  Odd- 
Fellows'  Hall. 

Fine  barns,  good  orchards,  fields  of  sorghum,  buckwheat,  &c.,  be- 
sides other  agricultural  indications,  denoted  prosperity  and  enterprise. 

In  Parke  county,  the  coal  near  Clinton  Lock,  so  fully  described  by  Mr. 
Lesquereux,  is  leased  and  worked  on  the  land  of  Messrs.  T.  Jones  & 
Co.  by  Mr.  Griffith ;  another  opening  is  owned  by  Mr.  Walter  G.  Crabb, 
a  third  by  Mr.  Joseph  Blake,  and  a  fourth  by  Mr.  G.  M.  Griffith. 

Besides  Mr.  John  W.  Campbell,  the  Abdallah  Company,  Mr.  Beattie 
Harrison  and  Mr.  Fagan  Boyd,  own  openings  at  or  near  section  34, 
township  15  north,  range  7  west,  in  the  region  of  Little  Raccoon  Creek, 
to  which  Dr.  Dare,  of  Rockville,  also  a  proprietor  of  coal  land,  was 
good  enough  to  pilot  us. 

Mr.  Lesquereux  has  also  described  the  excellent  coal  of  Hon.  W.  G. 
Coffin,  whose  absence  East,  prevented  our  having  the  pleasure  of  his 
company,  which  as  a  member  of  the  State  Board  he  would  otherwise 
have  given  in  the  explorations  of  his  county;  but  under  his  son's  di- 
rections and  those  of  Dr.  Hubbs,  who  courteously  conducted  us,  we 
had  a  good  opportunity  to  examine  the  Sugar  Creek  Coal. 

*So  denominated  by  the  miners,  but  not  so  in  strict  mineralolgical  language. 


OF   INDIANA.  167 


Mr.  Coffin's  coal  gave,  on  analysis  of  one  gramme : 

( gas  42.0 

Volatile  matter 48-°{water  6.0 

( carbon  49.0 

Coke • Clashes  3.0 

100.0 

Coke  swelled  somewhat ;  ashes  light  grey. 
A  gramme  of  Mr.  Campbell's  coal  afforded  : 

gas  42.0 


Volatile  matter 49.C  ,  water 


Coke Clashes 


( carbon    49.0 
2.0 


100.0 

Coke  swelled  slightly ;  ashes  reddish  brown. 

A  considerable  amount  of  milk-sickness  was  reported  in  this  county, 
and  some  examinations  were  made  with  reference  to  the  subject,  which 
will  be  reported  under  that  general  head. 

VERMILLION  AND  CLAY  COUNTIES. 

As  our  corps  had  an  opportunity  of  visiting  some  coal  openings, 
during  an  exploration  subsequent  to  the  one  made  in  company  with  Mr. 
Lesquereux,  a  few  additional  localities  are  here  subjoined  :  One  occurs 
a  mile  and  a  half  south-east  from  Newport,  and  several  others  are  found 
on  the  creek  close  to  that  town.  The  coal  of  one  bank  owned  by 
Messrs.  Bell  and  Groves  gave  the  following  components : 

( gas         33.0 
Volatile  matter 47-°{water     10.0 

r  carbon    54.0 
Coke Clashes        30 

100.0 

Coke  swelled  very  little ;  ashes  reddish  grey. 

Mr.  John  "W.  Thomas  owns  a  bank  one  mile  from  Newburg,  on  Lit- 
tle Vermillion;  Mr.  W.  A.  Henderson  another  two  miles  west  of  town, 
and  Mr.  Bennett  a  third,  six  miles  north-west  from  Newburg,  worked 
by  stripping.  The  two  former  are  No.  9,  with  No.  11  above  not 
worked. 

Mr.  John   Wright  on  section  13,  township  14  north,  range  9  west, 

also  Mr.  Samuel  Davidson  and  Mr.  Van  Ness  own  coal  banks  about 
11 


168  GEOLOGICAL   RECONNOISSANCB 

one  mile  west  of  Clinton,  reported- as  having  a  seam  over  fourteen  feet 
thick. 

Around  Eugene  coal  is  extensively  worked  on  Big  Yermillion,  where 
three  beds  frequently  show  themselves,  sometimes  only  separated  by  a 
clay  parting  of  two  to  three  feet;  the  upper  coal  from  two  to  three  feet 
thick,  being  selected  as  the  best.  The  roof  of  this  consists  here  of 
about  five  feet  of  black  shales  and  several  feet  of  sandstone,  usually 
overlaid  by  twenty-five  to  thirty  feet  of  gravel.  Underneath  is  fire- 
clay ;  large  Septaria  are  sometimes  found  immediately  over  the  coal  and 
under  the  black  shales.  At  Mr.  Collet's  bank  there  is  a  rich  deposit  of 
iron  ore. 

The  openings  chiefly  worked,  are  Mr.  John  Heapburn's,  nearest 
town,  Mr.  Miller  Jones'  bank,  leased  to  Mr.  Dunlavy,  and  Mr.  Joseph 
Collett's,  2 J  miles  from  town,  on  the  north  side  of  Big  Yermillion.  Mr. 
John  Groendyke's,  and  Mr.  Samuel  Groendyke's  banks  are  on  the  south 
side,  near  town.  Mr.  Harrison  Elsby's  is  belcw  "Hanging  Kock,"  4 
miles  from  Eugene,  and  Mr.  Wm.  Hughes'  bank,  mentioned  by  the  late 
State  Geologist,  in  his  Keport  of  1857,  is  4J  miles  from  town ;.  thick- 
ness of  coal,  2J  feet. 

On  Little  Yermillion,  there  are  numerous  coal  openings,  the  seam 
being  represented  as  thicker  than  those  above  described.  Mr.  Martin 
Patrick's  name  was  the  only  one  ascertained.  Sandstone  quarries  are 
also  found  on  the  same  stream.  On  Big  Yermillion,  one  stratum  in  the 
subjoined  section,  where  the  bank  is  from  75  to  100  feet  high,  affords 
solid  building  material : 

|  FEKT. 

Quaternary 25-35 

Sandstone  and  shales 8-10 

Solid  bed  of  sandstone 6-8 

Sandstone,  somewhat  shalj 10-15 

Shales 2 

Thin  shales 5 

Black  slaty  shales 5 

Coal,  dipping  slightly  under  water 2-2J 

Level  of  water  in  Big  Yermillion 0 

Coal  sells  in  Eugene  at  7  cents,  delivered,  in  Perrysville  at  10  cents, 
At  the  latter  town,  in  descending  to  the  ferry,  a  bed  of  3  to  4  feet  of 
solid  dark  limestone  shows  itself  over  more  shaly  beds,  with  the  black 
slates  underneath. 


OF  INDIANA.  169 


The  well-known  "  Indiana  Furnace  "  is  in  this  county,  on  Sec.  23,  T. 
14  !N".,  R.  10  W.,  and  has  been  in  operation  23  years.  It  is  owned  by 
Messrs.  E.  B.  Sparks  &  Co.,  who  employ  75  hands,  using  the  hot  blast, 
and  obtaining  heat  from  the  gases  given  off  by  the  combustion  of  metal 
and  the  charcoal.  They  pay  $1.50  per  ton  for  ore  delivered.  It  is  found 
abundantly,  of  several  varieties,  in  all  the  hills  around,  as  well  as  close 
by  their  furnace,  over  a  five  foot  vein  of  coal.  By  mixing  several  ores, 
previovsly  roasted  to  expel  the  sulphur,  they  often  avoid  the  necessity 
of  fluxing  with  limestone,  although  when  necessary  it  can  be  obtained 
near  there.  They  can  run  ten  tons  of  metal  per  day,  using  twenty-five 
tons  of  ore  and  drawing  twice  in  twenty-four  hours ;  they  ship  the  iron 
on  the  Terre  Haute  Eailroad,  at  Sandford,  seven  miles  distant.  Fre- 
quently they  manufacture  also  their  own  fire-brick. 

Clay  county  is  equally  favored  as  regards  coal.  A  sample  from  the 
Brazil  shaft  of  the  Splint  or  Boghead  coal  afforded: 

(eras         48.0 

Volatile  matter 53.0S  .  A 

I  water       5.0 

( carbon    44.0 
Coke ' 47'°{ash  3.0 


100.0 
Swelled  in  cooking ;  ashes  light  grey. 

The  coal  is  used  and  much  liked  by  the  proprietors  of  the  Rolling- 
Mill  at  Indianapolis.  Mr.  Campbell,  who,  with  four  other  Scotchmen, 
works  it,  conducted  me,  (28th  November,  1859,)  after  a  descent  in  the 
shaft  of  nearly  100  feet  deep,  along  the  three  foot  three  inch  drift  for 
one  hundred  and  eleven  yards,  nearly  north-east ,  since  however  greatly 
extended.  About  thirty  feet  from  the  shaft  is  a  "horseback"  of  no 
great  detriment;  but  at  the  extremity  of  one  chamber  the  coal  entirely 
disappears  through  a  similar  cause.  They  furnished  the  following 
shafting : 

FEET.    INCHES. 

Soil  and  subsoil 10 

Limestone 4 

Aluminous  shales „ 28 

Coal 10 

Sandstone 28 

Shales 2 

Coal 3     3 

Fire-clay 6 

Blue  shales,  indefinitely  down  


170  GEOLOGICAL    RECONNOISSANCE 

The  Highland  coal  of  the  Staunton  Company  gave  on  analysis  : 

( gas         39.0 
Volatile  matter 44-°{  water       5.0 

f  carbon    55.0 
Coke 56-°{ash  1.0 

100.0 

Swelled  in  cooking;  ashes  grey. 

The  other  coals  of  Clay  county  will  be  found  enumerated  in  the  list 
of  coals  tabulated  in  the  appendix. 

Mr.  Talbott  has  a  thriving  pottery  in  this  county,  and  there  may  be 
others  which  we  did  not  see. 

YIGO  AND  OWEN  COUNTY. 

Besides  the  coal  mentioned  by  the  late  State  Geologist  as  found  on 
Honey  creek,  and  the  banks,  fully  described  by  Mr.  Lesquereux,  which 
Mr.  McQuilken  works  by  stripping  in  his  bottom  fields  and  by  a  shaft 
near  the  railroad,  on  sections  7  and  8,  township  12  north,  range  9  west, 
there  are  several  coal  proprietors  near  him  along  Sugar  creek,  of  Vigo 
county,  who  take  coal  to  Terre  Haute,  a  few  miles  distant;  also,  Mr. 
Jonas  Seely,  eight  miles  east  of  town,  at  Woods'  Mill.  Mr.  Frederick 
Miller,  on  Coal  creek,  of  Vigo  county,  has  a  four  foot  and  a  half  seam 
on  section  30,  township  13  north,  range  9  west ;  and  Mr.  Ferrin  and 
Mr.  Ross,  have  banks  near  Middletown,  with  a  thinner  bed  of  coal;  the 
former  is  on  section  16,  township  10  north,  range  10  west. 

Mr.  C.  R.  Clarke,  who  lives  on  the  edge  of  a  prairie  near  Prairie- 
town,  to  which  the  Wabash  sometimes  extends  itself,  although  five 
miles  distant,  accompanied  us  to  these  localities  chiefly  with  a  view  to 
the  examination  of  a  region  in  that  neighborhood  troubled  with  milk- 
sickness,  in  places  which  have  been  fenced  in  for  thirty  years, — cattle 
drying  if  permitted  to  browse  before  the  dew  is  off.  No  metallic  poi- 
sons were  detected  in  the  springs  by  the  sulphureted  hydrogen  gas 
test,  although  they  reported  that  lead  had  been  found  near  there.  It 
may  have  been  left  in  spots  by  the  Indians,  as  they  had  six  mounds 
near  here,  used  as  burial  places,  either  of  natural  quaternary  deposit, 
or  raised  artificially  from  those  materials. 

Doubtless  there  are  also  other  coal  proprietors  and  banks  in  this 
county,  whose  names  did  not  reach  us. 

Above  Fairbanks,  near  Middletown,  there  is  a  flourishing  stone-ware 


OF  INDIANA.  171 


pottery,  and  Mr.  S.  W.  Gapen  has  one  also  one  mile  south  of  the  latter 
town.  The  ware  is  sold  chiefly  in  Carlisle  or  taken  into  Illinois.  The 
potter's  clay  is  a  quaternary  deposit  obtained  just  under  the  soil  two 
miles  south-west  of  his  place ;  the  limestone  employed  is  quarried  two 
miles  east,  the  sandstone  two  miles  west  of  Middletown. 

Mr.  McQuilken  has  quarried  both  limestone  and  sandstone,  a  few 
miles  N.  IS".  E.  of  his  farm,  which  find  a  ready  market  and  are  easily 
boated  on  the  Wabash.  Mr.  Peter  Hulse  furnishes  Terre  Haute 
with  fire-clay  from  his  place,  nine  miles  east  of  town,  near  the  edge  of 
Clay  county.  The  details  will  be  found  fully  given  in  Mr.  Lesquereux's 
report  regarding  the  coals  of  Owen  county,  and  the  probability  of  ob- 
taining profitable  results  in  the  oily  products  from  distillation  of  a  can- 
nel  coal  from  a  bed  discovered  by  him  on  the  land  of  Mr.  Henry  Jackson. 

The  particulars  regarding  the  Mammalian  bones  found  near  Gosport, 
have  been  so  well  detailed  by  Rev.  Theophilus  Wylie,  of  the  State 
University,  as  to  render  it  only  necessary  here  to  call  attention  to  that 
fact. 

GREENE  AND  SULLIVAN  COUNTIES. 

The  coals  of  the  former  will  be  found  fully  described  in  the  report  of 
Prof.  Lesquereux. 

The  subjoined  is  the  only  analysis  which  time  permitted  of  the 
Greene  county  coal.  It  is  from  the  sub-conglomerate,  two  feet  and  a 
half  seam,  of  Mr.  Thornton  Hays,  on  section  16,  township  6  north, 
range  4  west. 

One  gramme  gave : 

fgas       36.00 
Volatile  matter 44'5\water     8.50 

r  carbon  53.50 
Coke 55'5\ashes      2.00 

100.00 

Coke  swelled  somewhat;  ashes  steel  grey. 

The  Richland  furnace,  which  has  been  carried  on  for  a  number  of 
years,  was  unfortunately  temporarily  suspended  in  its  operations  while 
we  were  there,  so  that  we  had  not  a  favorable  opportunity  for  inspect- 
ing or  ascertaining  its  facilities.  The  ore  is  said  to  average  from  the 
furnace  forty  per  cent,  of  pure  iron. 

In  Sullivan  county,  the  coal  described  by  Mr.  Lesquereux  as  belong- 
ing to  Messrs.  Elliott  and  Sharpe,  was  formerly  owned  by  Mr.  Isaacs, 


172  GEOLOGICAL  RECONNOISSANCE 


and  is  now  raised  from  a  depth  of  fifty  feet  by  Messrs.  James  Elliott, 
Ralph  Elliott  and  David  Sharpe.  They  convey  it  on  a  switch  about 
half  a  mile  to  the  Evansville  and  Crawfordsville  Railroad,  at  Farmers- 
burg,  having  undertaken  to  supply  the  Terre  Haute  gas  works.  Ac- 
cording to  their  calculation  they  could  furnish  annually  for  the  market 
60,000  bushels. 

These  gentlemen  presented  for  the  State  collection  some  coal  plants 
obtained  from  their  mine,  -and  decided  by  Mr.  Lesquereux  to  be  Sigil- 
laria  reniformis,  Sphenophyllum  Schlotheimii,  Pecopteris  arborescens,  a 
^europteris  and  Syringodendron  pachy derma.  Good  limonite  was  ob- 
served by  Mr.  Lesquereux. 

On  a  previous  exploration,  I  was  informed  by  the  landlord  at  Sulli- 
van's Station;  that  Mr.  Thomas  Grant,  of  Evansville,  had  made  a  boring 
for  a  company  near  the  Station,  which  is  nine  miles  from  the  Wabash 
river,  reaching  a  three  foot  vein  of  coal  at  150  feet  below  the  surface,  a 
seven  foot  vein  at  500  feet  in  depth,  and  no  other  seam  in  the  remain- 
ing 80  feet  which  terminated  the  work.  A  three-foot  bed  of  bastard 
limestone,  which  crops  out  about  three-quarters  of  a  mile  east  of  the 
town  of  Sullivan,  he  thinks  was  reached  at  a  depth  of  about  200  feet. 

At  Princeton,  Gibson  county,  there  is  an  agency  for  the  coals  of  Sul- 
livan; which  a  reference  to  the  appendix  will  show  is  mined  at  many 
points,  near  Currysville  and  Busseron  creek. 

From  the  Merom  heights  a  most  magnificent  view  is  obtained  over 
the  Wabash  into  Illinois,  and  the  following  interesting  section  can  be 
studied,  at  an  escarpment  160  feet  in  perpendicular  descent,  formed  by 
the  deundation  of  the  river  through  a  long  succession  of  ages : 


Quaternary 30 

Shaly  sandstone 15 

Solid  sandstone 25 

Limestone,  partly  covered  by  ferruginous  tufa  2-5 

Coal 1-2 

Black  shales 5 

Productal  and  encrinital  limestone. 

Brashy  coal 

Fire-clay 8-10 

Shales 

Talus,  probably  shales 40-50 

Level  of  Wabash  river 00 


OF  INDIANA.  173 


The  upper  limestone  has  almost  the  character  of  a  conglomerate  rock 
and  has  seams  of  coal  one  to  two  inches  thick,  deposited  and  enclosed 
in  its  substance.  Of  this  we  secured  specimens.  The  coal  is  not 
adapted  for  blacksmithing,  but  will  burn  in  grates. 

Prairies  are  numerous  in  this  county,  and  Birch  trees  are  not  un- 
common along  the  streams.  The  soil  is  generally  sandy,  especially  near 
the  river,  and  even  for  several  miles  thence,  where  the  recent  quater- 
nary constitutes  the  superficial  deposit. 

MARTIN  AND  DAVIE8S  COUNTIES. 

In  addition  to  the  coal  of  Martin  county  described  in  the  report  of 
Prof.  Lesquereux,  attention  deserves  to  be  called  to  the  excellent  mar- 
ble and  oolitic  limestone  quarries  of  Mr.  Ralph  Delamater,  on  section 
13,  township  4  north,  range  3  west.  We  found  extensive  beds  of  each, 
about  three  feet  in  thickness,  susceptible  of  receiving  a  fine  polish,  and 
easily  shipped,  as  it  is  close  to  White  river.  The  marble  is  a  mottled 
grey. 

Good  iron  ore  can  be  found  at  various  places.  A  sample  furnished 
by  Dr.  W.  F.  Delamater,  of  Dover  Hill,  from  McCameron  township, 
gave  evidence,  on  analysis,  of  containing  about  44  per  cent,  of  iron. 

An  iron  ore  from  the  farm  of  Mr.  Moses  C.  Edwards,  also  obtained 
through  the  politeness  of  Dr.  Delamater,  afforded  on  quantitative  analy- 
sis of  a  tenth  of  a  gramme : 

Loss  by  drying 0.004 

Protoxide  of  iron a  trace 

Insoluble  silicates 0.027 

Peroxide  of  iron 0.058 

Alumina,  Magnesia,  alkalies  and  loss,  not  separately  estimated...  0.011 


0.100 


Consequently  this  ore  contains  over  40  per  cent,  of  iron,  according  to 
the  rule  employed  for  estimating. 

Noar  the  edge  of  Lawrence  county,  in  the  region  of  Willow  Valley 
Station,  the  Messrs.  Elliott  own  a  large  deposit  of  iron  ore,  which  con- 
tains a  good  per  centage  of  iron,  but,  from  the  quantity  of  associated 
silica,  would  be  refractory  to  work.  There  is  also  iron  ore  on  the  land 
of  Mr.  O'Brian  and  of  Mr.  Hanna,  living  in  Petersburg,  Pike  county. 


174  GEOLOGICAL   RECONNOISSANCE 

Three  miles  south-east  of  the  White  River  Shoals,  Mr.  Sullivan,  of 
New  Albany,  and  others,  own  a  coal  bank,  into  which  we  were  inform- 
ed they  had  already,  in  Nov.,  1859,  drifted  about  400  yards,  working  a 
four  foot  seam. 

At  Owensburg,  the  blacksmiths  obtain  a  jet-black,  sub-conglomerate 
coal,  almost  destitute  of  sulphur,  from  an  opening  four  miles  south-west 
of  that  town. 

The  bank  of  natural  points,  mentioned  in  Mr.  Lesquereux's  report 
as  being  over  the  sub-conglomerate  coal  near  Dover  Hill,  consists  of 
fine  aluminous  materials  mingled  with  the  various  iron  ores,  so  as  to 
form  several  different  tints,  such  as  yellow  ochre,  red  ochre  and  umber. 
This  locality  has  been  purchased  from  Dr.  Delamater  by  a  Cincinnati 
company,  who  have  extensive  arrangements  for  washing  off  all  impu- 
rities, drying,  barreling,  shipping,  &c.  Mr.  Munson,  one  of  the  firm 
residing  in  Cincinnati,  politely  furnished  a  wood- cut  exhibiting  a  sec- 
tion and  back-ground  of  the  locality,  which  illustration  is  herewith 
subjoined. 

We  found  similar  red  paint  on  the  farm  of  Mr.  Henry  Inman,  section 
28,  township  5  north,  range  2  west. 

Between  Indian  creek  and  White  river,  on  section  2^,  township  4 
north,  range  3  west,  a  lithographic  stone  is  obtained,  which,  although 
it  contains  occasionally  Productus  tenuistriatus,  &c.,  could  probably  be 
quarried  in  blocks  of  moderate  size,  sufficiently  uniform  in  texture  for 
the  use  of  the  artist. 

On  the  same  section  a  deposit  of  fibrous  gypsum  and  selenite,  and  a 
strong  chalybeate  spring  are  owned  by  Dr.  Delamater.  Fragments  of 
zinc-blende  were  also  shown  us  from  Mr.  Phillip  Baker's  land,  three 
miles  from  Indian  springs. 

Some  of  the  fire-clays  of  Martin  county  are  manufactured  into  stone- 
ware by  Mr.  Stookey. 

The  timber  adjoining  Dover  Hill  is  Chestnut  Oak,  Tulip-tree,  Hicko- 
ry, White  and  Black  Walnut,  Sycamore,  with  an  undergrowth  of  Per- 
simmon, Papaw  and  Eedbud.  There  are  also  some  £>ugar  and  Beech 
trees,  the  latter  exhibiting  on  their  bark  frequent  cicatrices  of  the 
scratched  furrows  made  in  the  ascent  by  bears,  which  used  to  be  very 
numerous  in  this  county. 

The  well-known  and  valuable  watering  places  distinguished  as  the 
"  Indian  Springs,"  owned  by  Mr.  Donahue,  and  the  u  Trinity  Springs," 
by  Dr.  Dunn,  are  situated  in  Martin  county. 

At  the  former  locality  there  is  a  white-sulphur  and  a  stronger  black- 


IRON,  CO\L  AND  PAINT  BANKS,  NEAR  DOVER  HILL.  MARTIN  COUNTY. 


OF  INDIANA.  177 


sulphur  spring;  with  heavy  deposits  of  sulphur  and  some  of  the  char- 
acteristic odor  of  sulphureted  hydrogen  gas.  However  there  does  not 
seem  to  be  enough  of  this  to  blacken  the  paint  of  white  lead,  on  the 
wood-work  around,  as  always  occurs  at  Blue-Lick  Springs  and  Dren- 
non  Springs,  Py.  When  transported,  in  closely  corked  bottles,  to  the 
Laboratory,  the  water  of  the  white  sulphur  appeared,  on  treatment 
with  solution  of  arsenic,  to  give : 

Of  sulphureted  hydrogen,  only 0.00031 

There  was  also  a  small  amount  of  carbonic  acid. 

The  specific  gravity,  water  being  1,000,  is 1.00014 

200  grammes  dried  at  300  F.,  gave  of  sold  matter 0.65 

And,  after  ignition,  gave  of  solid  matter 0.60 

A  quantitative  analysis,  which  was  made,  showed  some  alumina  and 
magnesia,  and  notable  quantities  of  lime,  potash  and  soda,  particularly 
the  latter,  some  of  them  as  chlorides  and  sulphates  ;  but,  before  record- 
ing the  exact  figures,  it  is  thought  best  to  repeat  the  analysis  of  this 
and  to  compare  with  the  black  sulphur,  as  also  with  the  water  of  Trin- 
ity Springs,  when  time  permits. 

The  latter,  as  indicated  by  the  name,  issue  in  three  fine  streams  just 
below  the  town. 

This  mineral  water  seems  to  be  the  congenial  element  for  peculiar 
confervse,  which  in  their  turn  furnish  a  suitable  habitat  for  numerous 
infusorial  animals,  whose  specific  forms  it  would  be  highly  interesting 
to  examine  microscopically. 

Near  Indian  Springs  a  remarkable  white  Magnesian  mineral,  which 
cuts  readily  with  a  knife,  and  resembles  the  meerschaum  used  for  pipes, 
deserves  an  accurate  quantitative  analysis. 

Altogether  this  county,  although  somewhat  rugged  and  broken  for 
easy  farming,  is  replete  with  mineral  wealth  of  various  kinds,  well 
worthy  of  being  developed. 

Daviess  county  ships  large  quantities  of  coal  and  has  even  sent  it  to 
the  St.  Louis  market.  Besides  the  enterprising  firm  of  Messrs.  J.  B. 
Legg  &  Co.,  Messrs.  Church,  Raymond  and  Tranter  are  working  their 
respective  banks  somewhat  extensively;  and,  with  increased  demand? 
can  readily  produce  greater  supplies. 


178  GEOLOGICAL  RECONNOLSSANCE 


A  sample  of  coal  from  Mr.  Church's  bank  gave : 


gas         39.0 


Volatile  matter .  44.o(gD 

i  water       5.0 

»  f  carbon    53.0 

Coke 56.<H      , 

^  1  ashes        3.0 


100.0 

While  examining  Mr.  Nelson  Jackson's  coal,  on  Teal  creek,  we  ob- 
served a  good  many  water  snipes  (Totanus  Semipalmatus  ?) ;  and  Birch 
trees  (Betula  nigra)  are  not  uncommon ;  but  White  Oak  prevails  on  the 
eastern  sub-division. 

There  is  a  considerable  amount  of  prairie  in  this  county,  particularly 
in  its  north-western  portion. 

KNOX  AND  DUBOIS  COUNTIES. 

Hon.  J.  D.  Williams,  Yice-President  of  the  State  Board,  remarks  on 
his  District,  that  wheat  and  corn  are  the  staple  products,  clay  predomi- 
nating in  part  of  the  soil;  sand  near  the  river;  Oak,  Poplar  and  Wal- 
nut are  the  principal  timber ;  chills  and  fever  and  pneumonia  the  pre- 
vailing diseases.  Hog  cholera  visited  portions  of  the  District  in  the 
spring  and  summer  of  1858. 

The  sandstone  of  his  District  was  used  in  the  construction  of  piers 
for  the  railroad  bridge,  where  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  road  crosses  the 
west  branch  of  White  river,  and  in  similar  constructions.  Lime  is 
brought  in  flat-boats  out  of  Lost  river. 

The  good  coal  near  Wheatland,  described  by  Mr.  Lesquereux  as  No. 
4,  is  owned  by  Mr.  Ashcraft,  and  is  conveniently  situated  on  White 
river,  besides  being  reached  by  a  switch  from  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi 
railroad.  It  makes  excellent  coke  and  is  extensively  shipped. 

Near  Edwardsport,  on  a  different  exploration,  we  had  an  opportunity 
to  examine  a  coal  bank  belonging  to  Mr.  Thomas  Curry,  the  bed  three 
feet  thick,  parts  being  of  clear,  black  bituminous  coal,  a  portion  rather 
earthy,  with  some  sulphuret  of  iron,  fire-clay  underneath,  and  ferru- 
ginous sandstone  forming  the  roof  shales.  Near  this  place  Messrs.  J. 
and  B.  Hargas,  the  steam-mill  company,  have,  on  section  1,  township  4 
north,  range  8  west,  the  same  coal,  and  a  third  opening  below  town  on 
Mr.  J.  B,.  Haddam's  place,  although  forty  feet  lower,  seems  from  the 
quality  and  roof  shales  to  be  the  same  seam.  These  three  openings 
supply  the  town,  and  as  yet  no  coal  is  exported. 


OF  INDIANA.  179 


Two  miles  below  Edwardsport  the  coal  shows  itself  in  the  bed  of 
White  river;  and  is  also  worked  at  Apraw. 

Through  the  kindness  of  Mr.  Peck,  of  VincenneX  we  obtained  a 
sample  of  lead  ore  of  rich  quality  from  this  county ;  but  as  yet  there 
seems  no  certainty  as  to  its  extent.  Mr.  James  Dick  found  it  on  his 
farm  near  Dicksburg,  two  miles  below  the  railroad  bridge  across  White 
river,  probably  in  a  quaternary  deposit. 

In  the  south-west  portion  of  this  county,  much  of  which  is  prairie, 
there  is,  between  the  Wabash  and  White  river,  a  Cypress  swamp,  em- 
bracing a  township,  or  over  17,000  acres,  probably  the  most  northerly 
latitude  to  which  the  American  Bald  Cypress  (Toxodium  distichum) 
extends  itself.  This  valuable  timber  is  cut  for  cask-staves,  shingles,  &c. 
The  swamp  land  commissioners  have  cut  a  wide  ditch,  about  four  miles 
long,  from  Deshee  creek  to  White  river,  with  a  view  of  draing  these 
lands. 

Of  the  Dubois  county  coal  several  analyses  were  made  and  are  sub- 
joined. 

One  gramme  of  the  Portersville  coal  gave : 

f  gas          39.0 
Volatile  matter 45-°\water       6.0 

{carbon    50.0 
ashes        5.0 

100.0 

Coke  swelled  considerable  ;  ashes  light  grey. 

Two  sub-conglomerate  coals  which  I  had  an  opportunity  to  examine 
in  this  county,  near  Celestine,  were  analyzed.  That  of  Mr.  Hawhee, 
from  a  seam  two  feet  thick,  worked  two  miles  east  of  Celestine,  gave, 
from  a  gramme : 


Volatile  matter  

(  gas          39.0 
.  44.0  f                 K  A 

Coke  

\  water        5.0 

{carbon    53.0 
,                         0  A 

ashes        3.0 

100.0 
Coke  swelled  a  little ;  ashes  grey. 


180  GEOLOGICAL   RECONNOISSANCE 

One  gramme  from  the  bank  of  Mr.  Samuel  H.  Jacobs,  worked  by 
stripping,  one  mile  east  of  Celesdne,  coal  two  feet  thick,  gave : 

r#as         34.0 

Volatile  matter 42.0  < 

{ water        8.0 

f  carbon    55.0 
°°ke 58'°\ash  3.0 

100.0 
Coke  swelled  somewhat ;  ashes  light  grey. 

The  coal  described  by  Mr.  Lesquereux  as  being  one  and  a  half  miles 
east  of  Portersville  is  worked  by  Mr.  Ralph  Atkinson.  Milk-sickness 
has  prevailed  in  portions  of  this  county,  especially  near  White  river,  to 
a  considerable  extent.  The  information  obtained  will  be  detailed  under 
that  head.  Mr.  Wade,  living  near  Jasper,  (3J  miles  south)  has  indica- 
tions of  iron  ore  on  his  farm ;  also  Mr.  Edmondson,  14  miles  N.  N.  E. 
of  town. 

In  this  county  they  have  limestone  enough  to  supply  kilns,  and  the 
eastern  portion  furnishes  sandstone  for  building  purposes  from  the  Mill- 
stone Grit. 

PIKE  AND  GIBSON  COUNTIES. 

Of  the  coals,  extensively  worked  in  the  former  county,  we  had  only 
an  opportunity  to  analyze  two ;  that  from  Mr.  Hughes'  mine,  near  Par- 
kersburg,  gave,  from  a  gramme : 

f  gas          38.0 
Volatile  matter 44-°{water       6i0 

f  carbon    51.0 
56-°tash  5.0 


100.0 
Swelled  somewhat  in  coking ;  ashes  dark  steel  grey. 

Besides  the  banks  of  Dr.  Posey,  seven  feet  thick,  and  of  Mr.  Fech- 
lin,  near  Kinderhook,  which  ship  large  quantities,  the  mine  owned  by 
the  Rhodes  family,  close  to  the  canal,  has  furnished  flat-boat  loads  of 
coal  pretty  regularly  out  of  White  river,  for  sale,  to  the  Wabash  towns. 
I  can  testify  that  New  Harmony,  Posey  county,  purchased  many  thou- 
sand bushels,  as  much  as  twenty-five  years  since,  for  steam-mill  pur- 


OF  INDIANA.  181 


poses,  from  that  source,  and  the  same  bank  still  supplies  this  town  with 
most  of  that  fuel;  a  few  blacksmiths  using  the  Pittsburg  in  part. 
The  coal  from  Mr.  Rhodes  bank  gave,  on  analysis  of  one  gramme : 

( gas          30.1 
Volatile  matter 44'4\  water     14.3 

f  carbon    54.9 
Coke Clashes        0.7 


100.0 

It  puffed  out  slightly  in  coking;  ashes  reddish  grey. 

Gibson  county  is  not  yet  working  any  openings  extensively,  except 
perhaps  at  Dongola  on  the  Potoka,  although  a  few  families  and 
blacksmiths  supply  themselves  at  several  points.  About  a  mile  below 
the  town  of  Potoka,  at  the  Flouring  Mill,  I  obtained  the  following  sec- 
tion : 

FEET, 

Quaternary  soils,  marls  and  clays..... 20-30 

Aluminous  sh ales 40-5 0 

Impure  limestone 2 

Black  sh  ales 5 

Coal 1 

Fire-clay  , 8 

Talus 5 

Bed  of  Potoka  river 0 

The  talus  was  supposed  to  cover  up  a  shaly  sondstone,  as  that  rock 
was  found  at  the  same  level  a  few  miles  distance  on  White  river,  over- 
laid by  a  thin  stratum  of  coal. 

Beech  timber,  Eupatorium  perfoliatum,  and  milk-sickness  can  be 
found,  not  unfrequently,  in  the  White  river  flats  near  the  junction  of 
Knox  and  Gibson.  The  southern  part  cf  the  county  has  numerous  fine 
farms,  generally  with  substantial  barns  and  houses;  the  Fair-Grounds  are 
commodious,  fairs  well  attended  and  the  county  noted  for  good  stock. 

PERRY  AND  SPENCER  COUNTIES. 

The  chief  locality  in  Perry,  from  which  coal  is  extensively  shipped, 
is  Cannelton,  on  the  Ohio  river,  noted  also  for  its  large  and  flourishing 
Cotton  Factory. 


182  GEOLOGICAL    RECONNOISSANCE 

Some  of  the  hills  back  of  town  have  been  tunneled  in  various  direc- 
tions, and  a  good  article  obtained,  often  having  the  properties  of 
cannel  coal.  In  these  mines  they  have  encountered  a  few  horsebacks, 
but  have  had  no  serious  difficulty.  The  dip  in  a  south-west  direction 
is  usually  17  or  18  feet  in  the  mile.  The  supplies  furnished  by  these 
coal  mines  sell  rapidly  at  the  wharf  to  passing  steamboats.  An  analy- 
sis of  one  specimen  from  this  place  gave : 

gas         39.0 


Volatile  matter 47.v     water       8>0 

( carbon    50.0 
53'°{ashes        3.0 


100.0 
Coke  swelled  somewhat ;  ashes  light  grey. 

From  a  box  full,  sent  through  the  attention  of  Hon.  Hamilton  Smith, 
ten  pounds  of  this  coal,  tested  for  oily  products,  furnished  these  results: 

POUNDS. 

Ammoniacal  liquor 0.600 

Crude  oil 2.400 

Coke.. 6.138 

Or,  estimated  by  per  centage : 

Ammoniacal  liquor..  6.00 

Crude  oil.. 24.00 

Coke 71.38 

Volatile  matter  and  loss..                 ,.  8.62 


100.00 

This  is  equal  to  sixty  gallons  of  crude  oil  in  a  ton  of  2,000  pounds. 
The  JBreckenridge  coal  averages  about  seventy-five  gallons  to  the  ton. 
Other  coals  of  less  importance,  because  further  from  market,  are  found 
in  Perry  county,  on  the  land  of  widow  Alvis,  that  of  Mr.  Mauk,  of 
Mr.  Van  Winkle,  &c. 

Probably  as  heavy  a  deposit  of  iron  ore  as  any  in  Indiana  is  to  be 
found  near  Leopold,  in  Perry  county,  as  it  occupies  a  bed  from  four  to 
eight  feet  or  more  in  thickness,  (judging  from  partial  excavations,)  ex- 
tending through  the  greater  portion  of  two  hills  near  the  town,  and 
forty  to  sixty  feet  above  it,  besides  being  found  in  beds  of  about  the 
same  level  in  other  hills  north-west  and  south-east,  from  the  first,  at 


OF   INDIANA.  183 


from  one  to  two  miles  distance,  as  well  as  on  section  11,  township  4 
south,  range  2  west  ;  also  at  Mr.  Jackson  Williams'  place,  one  mile  west 
of  Troy,  on  Mr.  Abraham  Lusher's  farm,  and  other  localities  in  the 
county. 

The  one  is,  at  Leopold,  associated  with  the  higher  ferruginous  sand- 
stones, about  290  feet  above  the  upper  member  of  the  sub-carboniferous 
limestone  found  at  no  great  distance  on  Oil  creek,*  the  bed  of  which,  at 
that  crossing  is  about  330  feet  below  Leopold.  As  this  stream  during 
the  winter  is  navigable,  if  it  were  found  profitable  to  work  the  ore,  the 
metal  could  be  readily  transported  on  the  creek  six  miles  to  the  Ohio 
river. 

The  ore,  on  analysis  of  one-tenth  of  a  gramme, 

Lost  by  drying  ......................................................  ..........  0.0080 

Gave  of  protoxide  of  iron  (Fe.  0.)  only  ................................  a  trace 

Of  insoluble  silicates  .........................................................  0.0160 

Of  lesquioxide  or  peroxide  of  iron,  (Fe.2  0.3)  ..........................  0.0695 

Alumina  ........................................................................  0.0030 

Lime  ........................................  .  .....................................  a  trace 

Magnesia,  alkalies  and  loss,  not  separately  determined  .............  0.0035 

0.1000 

This  ore  therefore  contains  48.6  per  cent,  of  iron. 

Near  Canuelton,  as  well  as  in  other  parts  of  the  coal  field,  sandstone 
is  quarried  for  building  -purposes.  Hon.  Hamilton  Smith,  wishing  to 
introduce  it  for  extended  sale,  asked  an  official  opinion,  which  I  fur- 
nished, as  fully  as  a  general  examination,  without  applying  special  tests, 
would  permit,  in  these  words  : 


HARMONY,  IND.,  March  10,  1861. 
Hon.  Hamilton  Smith,  Cannelton,  Perry  County: 

DEAR  SIR  :  —  In  reply  to  your  favor  of  the  4th  inst.,  I  offer  the  follow- 
ing remarks  on  the  strength  and  durability  of  sandstones  generally  as  a 

*This  stream  derives  its  name  from  the  oily  scum  frequently  found  floating  on  its  surface, 
in  a  manner  similar  to  that  which  first  attracted  attention  in  Ohio  and  elsewhere,  and  led  to 
boring  for  oil,  now  so  profitably  practised.  As  these  borings  are  usually  successful,  near  the 
margin  of  the  coal  basin  reaching  the  reservoirs  of  oil  commonly  in  the  carboniferous  con- 
glomerate, it  is  highly  probably  that  borings  might  be  remunerative  in  portions  of  Perry 
county. 


184  GEOLOGICAL  RECONNOISSANCE 

building  material,  also  some  observations  on  the  particular  variety  you 
propose  introducing  into  market. 

Durability. — According  to  Prof.  Mahan,  in  his  excellent  work  on  En- 
gineering, used  at  the  United  States  Military  Academy,  those  stones 
which  are  fine-grained,  absorb  least  water,  are  of  greatest  specific  grav- 
ity, and  most  free  from  potash,  clay,  iron,  and  similar  chemical  combi- 
nations; "are  also  most  durable  under  ordinary  exposure." 

The  absorption  of  water  by  some  fine-grained  sandstones  is  almost 
unappreciable  after  one  day's  immersion,  and  the  annual  wear  by  some 
experiments,  is  about  one-tenth  of  an  inch.  The  weight  of  a  cubic  foot 
of  sandstone  varies  from  144  to  158  pounds,  Cornish  granite  172  pounds; 
the  specific  gravity  of  sandstones  is  from  about  2.23  to  2.53,  while 
granite  is  2.6. 

Some  of  the  oldest  buildings  and  bridges  of  Europe  are  constructed 
of  sandstone,  especially  in  Scotland. 

Strength  of  Materials. — Although  stone  generally  will  sustain  much 
less  tensile  and  transverse  force  than  good  timber,  yet  it  will  bear  from 
three  to  six  times  as  much  as  brick,  where  the  object  is  to  resist  a  great 
crushing  force,  as  in  the  walls  of  buildings  or  the  piers  of  bridges,  dur- 
ing a  long  period;  it  is  certainly  a  most  valuable  material,  if  well  selected. 
Each  superficial  inch  of  granite  will  sustain  a  crushing  weight  of  from 
2.8  to  4.7  tons ;  sandstone  from  1.40  to  3.94;  the  latter  being  a  sand- 
stone of  the  Coal  Measures. 

Varieties  of  Sandstone. — It  is  evident  from  the  above  that  there  is 
considerable  difference  in  the  quality  of  sandstones.  The  freestone  of 
Edinburgh,  Scotland,  which  has  stood  for  centuries  unimpaired  in  build- 
ings and  bridges,  is  Irom  the  Coal  Measures.  And  I  may  add  a  large 
granary,  erected  at  New  Harmony  forty-five  years  since  by  the  Germans, 
is  from  the  higher  series  of  the  Coal  Measures.  It  seems  as  substantial  as 
the  first  day,  except  at  one  place  where  some  salted  meat  by  being  piled 
against  it,  caused  some  scaling  and  crumbling.  A  sandstone  from  near 
Fredonia,  employed  in  the  Louisville  gas  works,  is  from  just  beneath,  the 
Coal  Measures;  and  the  carboniferous  sandstone  forming  the  foundation 
of  a  warehouse,  which  I  observed  at  Williamsport,  Warren  county,  In- 
diana, exposed  alternately  to  high  and  low  wrater  of  the  Wabash,  as 
well  as  to  freezing  and  thawing,  exhibited  scarcely  any  perceptible 
scaling  or  abrasion,  after  about  thirty  years.  It  may  be  proper  to  re- 
mark that  sandstones  are  not  so  suitable  for  roads,  pavements,  or  steps 
much  used,  because  their  resistance  to  abrasion  from  friction  is  one- 
fifth  that  of  marble  and  about  one-sixteenth  that  of  granite ;  but  the 


OF  INDIANA.  186 


comparative  ease  with  which  freestones  are  dressed  will  recommend 
them  even  for  some  of  these  purposes,  if  the  liability  to  friction  is  not 
very  great. 

Although  I  have  not  examined  the  sandstones  of  Cannelton  with 
special  reference  to  these  points,  the  theoretical  indications  are  decidedly 
in  its  favor,  as  it  is  from  near  the  base  of  the  Coal  Measures. 

Yours  respectfully, 
[Signed,]  RICHARD  OWEN. 

The  late  State  Geologist  engaged  the  valuable  services  of  Mr.  J.  Les- 
ley to  make  a  lithographical  survey  of  part  of  Indiana,  in  order  to  ex- 
hibit the  advantages  of  such  surveys  for  those  parts  of  an  entire  State, 
which  from  the  presence  of  coal  beds,  or  other  valuable  minerals,  de- 
mand a  more  detailed  acquaintance  with  their  relative  levels.  Perry 
county  being  of  this  character  was  selected,  and  the  beautiful  map  exe- 
cuted by  that  accomplished  Topographical  Geologist  is  now  framed  and 
suspended  in  the  Geological  Room  of  our  State  Capitol.  On  a  some- 
what reduced  scale,  these  could  be  photolithographed,  when  several 
thousand  impressions  are  desired  for  about  twenty  dollars  per  thousand. 
Mr.  Lesley's  report,  and  accompanying  estimate,  shows  the  nature  and 
approximate  average  cost  of  such  work,  when  applied  to  any  desired 
region. 

Perry  county  has  been  noted  during  many  years  for  the  Troy  Pottery, 
mentioned  by  the  late  State  Geologist  as  having  been  established  by 
Mr.  McClure  and  others,  from  Staffordshire,  England.  It  is  now  own- 
ed by  Messrs.  Sanders'  Bros.,  who  manufacture  an  earthenware,  usually 
known  as  the  Rockingham  and  Yellow  Ware,  into  such  articles  of 
kitchen  use,  as  fruit  jars,  pitchers  of  tasteful  patterns,  besides  spittoons, 
&c.  The  ware  is  stated  by  them  not  to  be  affected  by  acids,  the  glazing 
being  composed  chiefly  of  white  lead,  borax,  sand  and  common  clay ; 
still  it  is  always  best  not  to  leave  canned  fruit,  or  any  other  acid  article 
of  food,  in  tinware  or  earthenware,  except  with  the  salt  glaze  or  fel- 
spathic  enamel,  exposed  for  a  considerable  time  to  the  action  of  the  at- 
mosphere. At  first  they  made  a  white  ware ;  but  found  it  would  not 
justify  them  under  the  circumstances.  They  also  manufacture  good 
fire-brick  at  five  dollars  per  thousand,  grinding  up  a  portion  of  the  old 
saggers  with  the  fire-clay,  and  sometimes  portions  of  sandstone. 

If  the  demand  for  roofing  and  draining  tiles,  or  for  paviag  brick, 
justified  them,  they  could  at  this  locality,  from  the  same  potters'  mate- 
J2    V 


186  GEOLOGICAL  RECONNOISSANCE 

rials,  with  a  vitrifying  glaze,  make  a  hard  tile  brick  quite  impervious  to 
water;  at  a  cost  for  the  roofing  tile  of  twelve  dollars  a  thousand. 

The  coal  seams  show  themselves  here,  one  exhibiting  only  its  roof 
shales  at  low  stage  of  water  in  the  Ohio  river,  the  second,  from  the  fire- 
clay of  which  they  manufacture  their  saggers,  is  below  high  water 
mark,  and  the  third  or  highest  having  only  a  few  inches  of  coal,  but 
whose  fire-clay  here  often  occupies  ten  feet,  furnishes  the  potters'  main 
material  for  earthenware. 

In  this  thriving  county,  a  city,  with  several  thousand  inhabitants,  and 
important  manufactures,  but  which  we  seek  in  vain  even  on  lata  maps, 
has  been  raised  in  a  few  years  from  the  forest  wilderness,  through  the 
industry  and  enterprise  of  a  Swiss  population,  who  have  named  it 
"Tell-City.", 

In  some  portions  of  this  county  milk-sickness  still  occasionally  visits 
the  inhabitants,  unless  they  keep  up  their  cattle  on  tame  pastures. 

The  Spencer  county  coals  have  been  minutely  described  by  Mr.Lesque- 
reux.  The  analysis  of  a  gramme  from  Mr.  Robert  Woods'  coal  bank, 
one  mile  west  of  Elizabeth,  on  section  19,  township  4  south,  range  5 
west,  gave : 

fgas       45.00 
Volatile  matter 48.5  <!  *__,__      3  5Q 


f  carbon  48.00 
Coke 5L5\ashes      3.50 

100.00 

Coal  is  probably  most  extensively  worked  at  present  by  the  Messrs. 
McGrail,  on  Mr.  B.  Shrodes  land,  near  Rockport,  and  by  Mr.  R.  Woods ; 
Mr.  Lewelyn  Jones  sends  from  his  bank,  on  section  25,  township  5 
south,  range  7  west,  coal  for  blacksmiths'  use  in  Gentryville.  The  sec- 
tion given  by  Mr.  Lesquereuxas  furnished  by  me,  was  obtained  through 
the,  politeness  of  Mr.  Lewis  G.  Smith,  formerly  interested  with  the  com- 
pany who  undertook  the  boring  in  search  of  coal. 

The  Taylorsville  coal  could  not  be  visited,  at  the  time  the  corps  was 
near  there,  in  consequence  of  the  Ohio  being  out  of  its  banks. 

At  Maxwell,  on  another  occasion,  near  the  line  of  Perry,  a  bank  was 
Been  which  had  been  opened  close  to  the  river. 

The  county  is  also  abundantly  supplied  with  sandstone,  furnished 
chiefly  from  bluffs  similar  to  that  seen  at  Rockport,  and  which  has  re- 


UNIVERSITY 

OF 
' 


OF  INDIANA.  189 


ceived  the  name  of  "Lady  Washington  Rock."  The  subjoined  en- 
graving of  that  scene  is  from  a  sketch  made  by  the  late  State  Geolo- 
gist, some  years  since. 

*? 
WARRICK  AND  VANPERBUGH  COUNTIES. 

Besides  the  coal  banks  of  Messrs.  Bethel  Bros.,  under  the  charge  of 
Mr.  Hutchison,  as  mentioned  in  Mr.  Lesquereux's  report,  there  are  also 
coal  mines  belonging  to  Messrs.  Bethel  Bros.,  near  Newburg,  furnishing 
coal  for  sale  on  the  Ohio  river;  the  names  of  the  other  proprietors 
around  there  we  regret  not  to  have  obtained.  Limestone  is  also  quar- 
ried about  Newburg. 

Near  Millersburg,  Mr.  Isaac  C.  Miller,  on  section  11,  township  5  south, 
range  9  west,  has  reached  a  twin  vein,  now  worked  by  Messrs.  Young 
and  Whetstone,  from  which  they  sell  extensively  and  could  readily  ship 
annually  100,000  bushels. 

Mr.  George  C.  Hart  strips  a  bank  on  his  fine  farm,  in  section  25, 
township  5  south,  range  8  west,  from  a  four  foot  two  inch  seam,  from 
which  he  sells  abundantly  in  Boonville,  and  could  furnish  the  same  an- 
nual product  above  stated.  So  also  could  Mr.  John  A.  Reynolds,  who 
from  beds  four  feet  six  inches  to  five  feet  ten  inches,  on  section  6,  town- 
ship 6  south,  range  7  west,  and  on  section  1,  township  6  south,  range  8 
west,  wagons  coal  to  the  same  town,  selling  at  ten  cents  per  bushel. 
At  some  of  these  openings  coal  No.  9  is  worked;  at  others  No.  9  seems 
almost  united  with  No.  11. 

Some  milk-sickness  is  reported  in  this  county. 

In  Vanderburgh  county  the  chief  coal,  mined  for  sale,  (although 
some  shows  itself  near  Judge  Silas  Stevens',  on  "Pigeon,")  is  that 
raised  from  the  Bodiam  shaft,  one  hundred  and  seventy  feet,  by  the  en- 
terprise of  a  company  at  Evansville,  under  the  able  superintendence  of 
Mr.  Wm.  Kesterman,  to  whose  politeness  we  are  indebted  for  the  sec- 
tion credited  by  Mr.  Lesquereux  to  myself. 

In  the  vicinity  of  this  city,  the  industrious  Germans  have  in  many 
oases  planted  vineyards  and  manufactured  considerable  quantities  of 
wine,  thus  oftei'  in  a  few  years  quadrupling  the  value  of  hill-land,  too 
broken  for  the  most  profitable  arable  farming. 

Orchards  are  also  abundant  in  this  county,  and  although  little  or  no 
Beech  and  Sugar-Tree  grow,  they  have  abundance  of  good  timber, 
such  as  Oak,  (white,  shingle,  red  and  black,)  Elm,  Hickory,  Sassafras, 
Catalpa  and  Sweet  Gum. 


190  GEOLOGICAL   RECONNOISSANCB 


This  county  also  furnishes  lime  for  use  and  exportation,  and  quarries 
a  considerable  amount  of  sandstone.  Occasional  cases  of  milk-sickness 
occur  in  portions. 

* 

POSEY  COUNTY. 

Although,  as  remarked  by  Mr.  Lesquereux,  but  little  coal  is  worked 
in  Posey,  except  annually  a  few  bushels  for  blacksmiths'  use,  from  the 
bank  of  Hon.  J.  C.  Pitts,  near  Springfield,  and  one  or  two  others, 
yet,  when  the  demand  justifies  a  shaft,  doubtless  coal  can  be  readily 
reached. 

Already,  near  West  Franklin,  Mr.  Priest  has  reached  coal  of  which 
he  sent  a  sample  for  analysis.  No  doubt  earthy  matter  from  other  por- 
tions of  the  boring  have  mingled  with  the  coal,  or  the  per  centage  of 
ashes  in  this,  No.  9,  coal  would  not  be  so  high.  One  gramme  gave  : 

f  eras         36.0 
Volatile  matter  .......................................  89-°  {  water       3.0 

f  carbon    42.0 
Coke  .....................................................  Clashes      19.0 

100.0 

Beneath  the  sandstone  of  the  cut-off,  near  New  Harmony,  two  thin 
beds  of  coal  have  been  observed  recently,  one  only  having  been  for- 
merly noted. 

On  this  sandstone,  which  at  places  is  shaly,  reposes  the  vast  bed  of 
quaternary  marl,  newer  than  the  Drift  or  Erratic  quaternary,  older  than 
the  alluvial  gravel  and  other  quaternary  of  the  Ohio  and  Wabash. 

This  bed,  in  some  places  twelve  to  fifteen  feet  or  more  thick,  and  io 
which  land  fresh  water  shells  of  the  genera  Helix,  Helicina,  Paludina, 
Planorbis  and  others  are  found,  and  which  will  be  specifically  enu- 
merated in  the  general  list,  furnishes  a  valuable  fertilizer,  the  analysis 
of  which  was  given  by  the  late  State  Geologist  in  his  first  report. 
It  seems  of  lacustrine  origin,  or  at  least  extends  for  miles  back  from  the 
Wabash  into  Illinois,  and  into  Posey  county,  covered  with  the  later 
quaternary  clays  and  subsoils.  At  its  junction  with  the  second  river 
bottom  of  gravel  and  alluvial  deposit  it  sometimes  seems  to  rest  upon 
it  ;  but  this  is  deceptive,  existing  only  at  the  junction,  where  it  has  wash- 
on to  the  later  clopoeit.  The  marl  hod  is  probably  of  the  same  age 


e 


OF    INDIANA.  191 


as  the  "loess"  of  the  Rhine,  and  the  circumstances  of  its  formation 
will  be  hereafter  discussed. 

In  the  '"  second  bottom,"  near  New  Harmony,  in  digging  a  well  for 
a  steam-mill,  branches  of  dicotyledonous  wood  resembling  cotton  wood 
were  taken  out  at  about  fifty  feet  under  the  gravel  level.  Still  a  few 
feet  beneath  this  "second  bottom"  we  find  high  water  mark,  and  a 
"first  bottom"  enriched  almost  annually  by  the  deposits  of  mud  left 
after  the  subsidence  of  the  Wabash  in  its  Nile-like  overflows. 

A  section  at  the  cut-off  Ferry,  where  the  river  has  cut  through  part 
of  the  rock,  exhibits  the  following  : 

FEKT. 

Quaternary  soil,  subsoil  and  clay 50-100 

Bed  of  marl 6-8 

Shaly  sandstone 20-25 

A  few  inches  of  upper  coal J 

A  few  inches  of  the  lower  coal,  (No.  13,)  with  fire-clay  under J 

Penciled  aluminous  shales  of  Dr.  D.  D.  Owen,  section 20 

Low  water  in  Wabash 0 

In  digging  a  well  a  short  distance  back  from  the  cut-off,  the  work- 
man, an  intelligent  observer  who  had  been  in  California,  reported  the 
following:  After  passing  through  two  or  three  feet  of  soil  and  sub- 
soil, he  encountered  clay  and  marl,  until  at  twenty-one  feet  below  the 
surface,  he  found  eight  to  twelve  inches  of  a  coal  seam,  (samples  from 
which  were  sent  to  the  laboratory,)  with  two  feet  of  fire-clay  under  the 
coal,  and  five  feet  of  common  clay  to  the  bottom  of  the  well,  viz.  : 
twenty-eight  feet  from  the  surface.  This,  from  concomitant  evidence, 
would  appear  to  be  in  place,  and  may  be  coal  No.  12  covered,  after 
deundation  of  the  materials  of  secondary  age,  by  twenty-eight  feet  of 
quaternary  alluvium. 

In  this  county  there  is  some  milk-sickness,  on  Big  creek,  the  details 
of  which  will  be  given  under  that  special  head.  On  the  same  creek, 
limestone  is  found  which  is  burned  for  lime;  and  at  West  Franklin  Mr. 
Febre  has  a  kiln,  holding  400  barrels,  which  he  fills  every  two  weekn, 
shipping  the  lime  on  the  Ohio  river. 

Mr.  Charles  Fitch  owns  a  quarry  one  mile  and  a  half  below  Mt.  Ver- 
non,  the  county  seat,  from  which  building  materials  and  lime  can  be 
obtained  advantageously.  The  sandstone  of  the  Cut-off  is  used  exten- 
sively for  foundations,  and  an  associated  limestone,  showing  itself  near 
the  dam,  has  interesting  fossils,  which  have  been  described  by  Dr.  Nor- 
wood, Messrs.  Cox,  Pratten,  &c. 


192  GEOLOGICAL  RECONNOISSANCE 


*SEC.  VII.— COUNTIES  IN  THE  DEIFT  OK  ERRATIC  QUA- 
TERNARY. 

SUB-SECTION  1. — GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. — Most  of  the  beautiful  and 
productive  counties  north  of  the  Wabash  are  so  covered  by  the  great 
northern  Drift  as  to  be  included  in  this  category;  and  indeed  many 
counties  south  of  the  Wabash  have  from  50  to  60  feet  of  quaternary 
deposits  overlying  the  rocks.  Still,  as  in  the  latter  counties,  the  larger 
streams  cut  through  the  drift  and  permit  an  examination  of  the  under- 
lying rocks,  we  rank  them  accordingly.  In  some  of  these  northern 
counties  rocks  have  been  rendered  visible  at  various  points  ;  butas  these 
are  few  and ,  detached,  although  they  will  be  noted  and  their  strati- 
graphy assigned,  yet  as  a  whole  it  was  thought  best  to  embrace  under 
the  head  of  Quaternary  counties  the  following:  Steuben,  LaGrange, 
Elkhart,  St.  Joseph,  LaPorte,  Porter,  Lake,  DeKalb,  Noble,  Kosciusko, 
Marshall.  Starke,  Jasper,  Newton,  Allen,  Whitley,  Fulton,  Pulaski, 
White  and  Benton. 

SUB-SECTION  2. — RESULTING  SOILS,  &c. — From  the  diversity  of  mate- 
rial brought  down,  during  this  period,  and  scattered  as  it  were  broad- 
cast over  the  secondary  rocks  or  the  detrital  remains,  the  soil  in  the 
Drift  counties  is  usually  remarkably  fertile.  As  a  general  rule,  from 
the  quantity  of  argillaceous  shales  and  disintegrating  bowlders  in  which 
alumina  is  prominent,  as  well  as  from  the  latitude  in  Indiana  suiting 
those  crops,  wheat,  rye,  timothy,  clover  and  potatoes  form  staple  arti- 
cles. Corn  is  likewise  grown,  but  not  so  extensively  as  in  the  more  are- 
naceous Wabash  bottoms,  also  oats  and  Sorghum.  A  superior  kind  of 
sugar-kettle  has  been  patented  in  St.  Joseph  county,  by  Mr.  Miller,  and 
success  attends  their  granulation  of  the  saccharine  juices  from  this  va- 
riety of  corn.  The  tops  also,  from  the  same  variety,  are  reported  as 
making  better  brooms  than  those  manufactured  from  the  broom-corn, 
while  the  refuse  is  more  acceptable  to  cattle.  Some  animals  of  the  finest 
stock  I  have  seen  in  the  State  were  raised  on  the  prairies  of  these 
northern  counties. 


*This  should  properly  be  Sec.  5,  as  it  was  originally  designed  that  the  five  geological  sys- 
tems should  constitute  five  sections,  which  would  have  made  the  Carboniferous,  as  in  the  in- 
dex, the  4th  section,  and  the  Sub-Carboniferous  Sandstone  Series  was  designed  as  a  sub-di- 
vision, and  marked  Sec.  41;  so  also  the  Sub-Carboniferous  Limestone  Series  should  have 
been  Sec.  4»,  and  the  Coal  Measures  Sec.  48.  But  as  this  was  inadvertantly  overlooked  in 
reading  the  proof,  the  reader  will  please  make  the  correction  to  correspond  with  the  index. 


OF    INDIANA.  193 


Portions  of  the  ridges  are  sandy,  while  into  the  low  prairies  has  been 
washing  for  centuries,  decomposing  vegetable  matter,  muck  or  humus, 
sometimes  extending  many  feet  below  the  surface,  and  furnishing  the 
righest  soil  when  sufficiently  drained. 

SUB-SECTION  3. — KOCK  QUARRIES,  &c. — Rock  quarries  are'not  abun- 
dant throughout  this  formation,  still  in  several  counties  they  will  be 
found  noted,  particularly  in  Allen,  White  and  Jasper. 

The  immense  deposits  of  marl,  sometimes  replete  with  shells  chiefly 
of  the  genera  physa,  planorbis,  cyclas  and  unio,  sometimes  a  clay  marl, 
particularly  in  St.  Joseph,  LaPorte,  Porter  and  Lake,  are  of  great  com- 
mercial and  agricultural  value,  as  well  as  for  burning  into  lime,  as  for 
the  fertilizing  of  the  soil;  but  more  particularly  for  the  manufacture  of 
artificial  stone  and  brick;  provided  that  enterprise,  so  successfully  com- 
menced, should  extend  itself  as  it  promises.  On  this  subject  I  take  the 
liberty  of  making  the  following  extracts  from  a  private  communication 
obligingly  addressed  to  me  by  Dr.  John  "W".  Young,  in  reply  to  enqui- 
ries which  I  made  on  the  subject,  not  doubting  that  this  will  prove  in- 
teresting to  many  : 

BLOOMINGTON,  Jan.  9th,  1860. 
"  Dr.  R.  Owen,  New  Harmony : 

"DEAR  SIR:  *  *  *  You  wish  to  be  informed  of  the  address  of 
the  company  about  organizing  for  the  manufacture  of  artificial  marble- 
blocks,  brick,  &c.  The  gentleman  at  the  head  of  the  movement  is  Mr. 
Clark  D.  Page,  Rochester,  New  York.  The  patantee  lives  at  -Charles- 
ton, South  Carolina,  a  physician,  and  quite  a  scientific  man.  I  have 
written  to  Mr.  Page  informing  him,  as  far  as  I  could,  from  what  you 
were  kind  enough  to  tell  me  of  the  fine  marl  bed  at  South  Bend.  I 
think  it  quite  likely  that  he  will  visit  the  place,  and  possibly,  in  con- 
nection with  others,  may  organize  a  company  to  manufacture  the  marl 
into  brick,  marble-blocks,  ornamental  window  tops  and  sills,  mantel- 
pieces, tombstones,  &c.,  &c.,  whatever  marble  is  used  for.  South  Bend 
would  be  a  good  point  from  which  to  reach  Chicago  and  Detroit,  and 
with  a  little  effort  a  mammoth  concern  might  be  built  up  in  a  few 
years.  I  have  requested  Mr.  Page  to  send  you  a  brick  to  Indianapolis,* 
care  of  Governor  Willard. 

For  an  ordinary  sized  brick,  the  manner  of  preparing  is  to  take  one 

^Unfortunately  this  specimen  for  the  State  collection  never  reached  its  destination,  so  far 
as  I  have  been  able  to  ascertain. — Note  by  R.  Owen. 


194  GEOLOGICAL   RECONNOISSANCB 

part  good  reached  lime  and  nine  of  marl.  Slack  the  lime  and  add  suf- 
ficient to  make  a  very  thick  liquid  ;  mix  this  with  the  marl,  and  mould 
in  the  ordinary  moulds;  let  it  dry  apparently  well  on  the  surface,  and 
press  in  steel  moulds  with  a  pressure  of  about  eight  tons. 

For  ornamental  work  use  about  one-sixth  lime  and  press,  using  a 
plunger  that  will  give  any  pressure  you  may  desire. 

When  the  lime  and  marl  are  good  and  white  the  effect  is  beautiful 
beyond  description.  The  article  pressed,  be  it  brick  or  ornamental 
work,  will  present  the  same  finish  the  mould  and  plunger  possess ;  in 
some  cases  looking  very  much  like  finely  gloosed  marble.  This,  I 
think,  could  easily  be  clouded  as  might  be  desired  with  the  proper  col- 
oring matter  imperfectly  worked  into  the  mortar. 

Brick  made  in  this  way  are  extremely  hard,  requiring  nearly  as  much 
force  to  break  them  as  would  be  necessary  were  they  made  of  "pig 
metal."  Besides  they  are  entirely  impervious  to  water  or  moisture, 
and  can  be  made  and  sold  as  low  as  the  Milwaukee  brick,  (or  even 
lower,)  which,  I  believe,  cost  $25.00  per  thousand. 

Mr.  Page  has  invented  a  lime-kiln,  which  he  has  patented  for  burn- 
ing marl.  The  best  lime  used  with  the  marl  is  that  made  from  the 
marl  itself.  *  *  Mr.  Page  has  also  patented  a  lime-kiln  for  burning 
lime  and  cement.  *  *  The  kilns  are  a  great  improvement  over  the 
old  method  of  burning,  in  fact  they  are  mammoth  crucibles  and  will 
disengage  in  the  most  perfect  manner  the  carbonic  acid,  thereby  in- 
creasing the  value  of  the  lime  or  cement  twenty  per  cent.,  so  says  the 
Chief  Engineer  of  the  United  States.  *  *  *  * 

Respectfully, 
(Signed,)  JOHN  W.  YOUNG. 

The  deposits  of  clay  for  the  manufacture  of  various  articles,  as  well 
as  of  that  peculiar  variety  of  the  buff-brick,  sold  abundantly  at  Mil- 
waukee, will  be  described  in  the  details  of  counties. 

SUB-SECTION  4. — METALLIC  ORES,  &c. — With  the  progress  of  rail- 
roads and  consequent  demand  for  railroad  iron,  as  well  as  the  increased 
development  of  our  domestic  manufactures,  especially  in  Rolling-Mills, 
Foundries,  and  the  like,  there  will  doubtless  arise  an  increase  in  the  de- 
mand for  iron,  after  its  first  extraction  from  the  ore,  and  of  a  concomi- 
tant desire  to  find  large  bodies  of  easily-worked  and  productive  iron 
ore.  Under  these  circumstances,  the  immense  value  of  the  great 
northern  iron  deposits,  which  actually  grow,  in  the  low  grounds,  by 
accretion  or  external  accession  of  parts,  can  scarcely  be  overestimated. 


OF   INDIANA.  195 


It  is  Dot  asserted  that  foreign  materials  are  converted  and  assimilated  as 
nourishment,  but  that  year  by  year  a  sensible  growth  or  addition  is 
made  by  accretion,  or  by  deposition  of  similar  solid  particles  around 
the  solid  nucleus  of  hyd rated  brown  oxide  of  iron,  from  the  highly 
charged  chalybeate  waters  of  many  of  those  regions,  filtering  through 
fragmentary,  conglomerated,  ferruginous  materials,  brought,  in  the 
erratic  period,  perhaps  from  a  distant  matrix,  and  arrested  in  their 
porous  percolation,  by  an  impervious  substratum,  to  reconsolidate  into 
the  most  important  metallic  ore  yet  offered  to  the  skill  and  industry  of 
man. 

The  numerous  localities  at  which  this  so-called  Bog-Iron  ore  are 
found,  will  be  given  in  detail  in  describing  the  counties;  but  it  may  be 
well  here  to  state  that  with  a  suitable  iron  bar,  should  the  survey  be 
continued,  several  acres  of  these  marshy  lands  could  be  probed  by  an 
industrious  laborer  in  one  day;  the  records  of  which  could  well  repay 
the  time  and  means  expended  thus  to  examine  the  whole  region  sup- 
posed to  have  profitable  deposits  of  this  ore. 

Occasionally  other  metallic  depoits  are  found  in  the  Drift,  as  copper, 
lead,  silver  and  gold,  but  as  these  are  usually  detached  fragments  or  at 
best  have  accumulated  in  smull  pockets  formed  by  the  finer  materials 
sifting  into  rock  fissures,  &c.>  we  can  scarcely  rely  upon  finding  deposits 
except  accidentally,  not  remunerative  as  a  steady  object  of  search,  as 
in  the  case  of  iron  ore. 

SUB-SECTION  5. — TIMBER  AND  PREDOMINANT  VEGETATION. — A  consid- 
siderable  portion  of  these  northern  counties  is  treeless,  and,  especially 
south  of  Lake  Michigan,  nearly  through  our  State,  but  at  least  to  the 
upper  Wabash,  we  find  extensive  prairies,  connecting  with  those  of  Illi- 
nois, generally  low  and  sometimes  wet;  while  higher  and  drier  tracts, 
commonly  destitute  of  timber,  with,  however,  occasional  groves,  occu- 
py a  position  to  the  east  and  west  of  the  low  prairies. 

In  this  boundless  expanse,  this  ocean-like  land,  level  sometimes  as  a 
floor,  with  perhaps  no  path  to  guide  the  traveler  and  scarcely  any  two 
objects  which  by  comparison  can  enable  him  to  estimate  distances,  na- 
ture has  provided  for  the  brave  denizen  of  these  American  "Steppes" 
a  diurnal  polar  star,  a  directive  sign,  like  the  moss  on  the  north  side  of 
trees  to  the  backwoodsman,  or  almost  like  the  compass  to  the  wanderer 
on  the  trackless  sea.  A  plant  of  the  composite  family  grows  abun- 
dantly in  the  prairies,  with  its  thick,  dry,  resinuous  leaves,  all  flattened 
to  one  plane,  as  if  fresh  from  the  pressure  of  a  herbarium,  surmounted 
by  a  gay,  yellow,  asteriod  flower;  and  this  plant,  Silphium  lacineatum, 


196  GEOLOGICAL   RECONNOISSANCE 

or  rosin  weed,  even  at  its  earliest  exit  from  the  soil,  and  ever  afterwards, 
in  its  developments,  ranges  this  broad  fallacious  plane  due  north  and 
south,  thus  presenting  one  face  of  the  leaf  east,  the  other  west.  In- 
stead of  an  upper  side  covered  with  nature's  varnish  for  protection,  an 
under  side  presenting  the  breathing  stomata  of  most  leaf-bearing  veg- 
etation, these  leaves  are  nearly  the  same  on  both  sides,  rough  and  re- 
sinous. To  this  peculiarity  of  ranging  its  leaf-plane  north  and  south 
it  owes  the  name  of  compass-plant,  and  to  its  highly  resinous  compo- 
sition the  name  of  rosin-weed.  Another  plant  common  on  these  prai- 
ries of  the  same  genus,  S.  terebinthinaceum  or  Prairie-dock,  which  has 
also  an  inclination  to  range  its  leaves  north  and  south,  but  not  so  uni- 
formly to  be  depended  upon,  contributes  with  the  compass-plant,  arte- 
misia  and  others,  to  give  to  the  prairie  fires  the  remarkably  dense  vol- 
umes of  black  smoke,  which  are  matters  of  astonishment  until  we 
trace  them  to  these  vast  reservoirs  of  inflammable  resins,  furnishing 
the  carbon  more  rapidly  than  it  can  combine  with  the  oxygen  of  the 
atmosphere. 

Other  peculiar  vegetation  of  the  prairies  will  be  alluded  to  in  the  de- 
tails of  counties,  such  as  the  Cattail-flag,  various  grasses,  usually  rather 
coarse;  wild  indigo  and  ferns  often  skirting  the  edges,  with  sometimes 
an  undergrowth  attempt  at  timber  in  the  form  of  willows,  aspens,  and 
the  like. 

In  some  northern  counties  there  is  abundance  of  fine  timber,  espe- 
cially White  Oak,  with  some  Beech  and  Sugar-Tree ;  and,  towards  the 
lakes,  Cedars,  Pines  and  Tameracks,  (Larch  or  Hackmatack.)  and  Al- 
ders, the  interspaces  dotted  beneath  by  such  quantities  of  a  genus  from 
the  Heath  family,  as  to  require  a  special  train  at  the  gathering  season, 
under  the  names  of  Huckleberry  (or  Whortleberry)  train ;  while  an- 
other genus  of  the  same  family,  the  Cranberry,  furnishes,  from  other- 
wise useless  swamps,  the  palatable  relish  to  heighten  the  savory  flesh  of 
the  native  buffalo,  deer  or  pinnated  grouse,  (prairie-hen,)  which  form- 
erly enlivened  these  vast  plains  or  still  rush  and  whir  through  the 
prairie. 

SUB-SECTION  6. — SPRINGS,  &c. — At  numerous  localities  chalybeate 
springs  were  seen,  and  at  more  than  one  place  encrusting  springs.  One 
of  these,  so  highly  charged  with  carbonate  of  lime,  held  fur  a  time  in 
solution  probably  by  an  excess  of  carbonic  acid,  and  under  certain  cir- 
cumstances parting  with  the  gas,  and  depositing  the  calcareous  incrus- 
tation in  such  quantity  as  even  to  encase  human  bodies  buried  within 


OF   INDIANA.  197 


its  influences,  will  be  found  described  among  the  details  of  Porter 
county. 

At  most  places  on  the  Indiana  prairies  water  can  be  obtained  by  dig- 
ging a  moderate  distance,  as,  although  sometimes  clay  with  little  inter- 
mission extends  from  on^,  to  two  hundred  feet  deep,  usually  beds  of  sand 
are  found,  after  penetrating  which,  a  supply  of  water  is  often  obtained, 
it  being  arrested  by  an  impervious  substratum. 

SUB- SECTION  7. — MISCELLANEOUS  FACTS. — Among  other  interesting 
facts,  it  was  gratifying  to  learn  that  this  northern  region,  whether  prai- 
rie or  timber,  so  far  as  we  could  hear,  is  not  visited  by  milk-sickness. 

The  formation  and  drainage  of  prairies,  the  phenomenon  of  acres  of 
dead  shells  being  sometimes  found  on  the  surface  of  these  natural  mead- 
ows, the  examination  how  far  the  craw- fish  and  the  ants  may  contribute 
to  elevate  some  prairies,  the  improvement  of  the  swamp-muck  "swales" 
and  the  dry-sand  ridges,  with  various  similar  descriptions  will  be  found 
alluded  to  under  the  physical  geography  of  those  regions. 

SUB-SECTION  8. — CHARACTERISTIC  FOSSILS  OF  THE  QUATERNARY. — In  the 
Drift  proper,  or  old  quaternary  accumulation,  resulting  from  the  erratic 
bowlders,  gravel,  clay,  &c.,  brought  from  the  north  by  whatever  agen- 
cy may  have  been  employed,  we  seldom  find  fossils  which,  have  been 
evidently  derived  from  the  older  strata  in  our  State,  but  chiefly  petri- 
factions of  the  secondary  period ;  though  from  the  more  local  middle  and 
later  Quaternary  we  obtain  in  this  country  abundant  specimens  of  the 
Mammoth  and  Mastodon,  species  of  which  are  found  in  the  European 
Tertiary  strata,  also  in  beds  probably  contemporaneous  with  the  loess 
deposits  along  the  Rhine,  we  find  at  least  one  megatheroid  animal  re- 
sembling the  giant  half  armadillo,  half  sloth  of  the  South  American 
Pampas-plains.  These  fossil  remains  of  the  Ohio  river  loess  have  thus 
far  shown  themselves  on  the  Kentucky  side,  particularly  near  Hender- 
son ;  but  as  an  exactly  similar  deposit,  characterized  by  the  same  shells, 
is  found  on  the  opposite  shore  in  Vanderburgh  and  Posey  counties,  it 
is  quite  probable  further  search  may  reveal  them  in  Indiana;  where,  as 
already  remarked,  mammalian  remains  of  the  proboscidean  family, 
comprising  the  Mammoth  (Elephas  primigenius,)  and  Mastodon  have 
been  found. 

These  and  the  shells,  &c.,  will  be  enumerated  in  the  tabulated  list  of 
Indiana  fossils. 


198  GEOLOGICAL    RECONNOISSANCE 


SUB-SECTION  9. — COUNTIES  IN  THE  QUATERNARY  FORMATION  : — 
STEUBEN,  LA  GRANGE  AND  ELKHART  COUNTIES. 

Steuben  is  one  of  the  counties  which  we  failed  to  reach,  and  which 
remains  to  be  examined ;  it  is  represented  as  resembling  in  many  re- 
spects LaGrange  and  Elkhart;  well  watered  by  streams  and  lakes,  and 
having  good  timber ;  in  other  parts  there  is  prairie  with  occasionally 
higher  and  more  sandy  ridges. 

Most  of  the  north  part  of  LaGrange  county  comprises  Oak  openings, 
having  some  Bur  Oak  timber,  with  no  underbrush,  and  a  yellow  hard- 
pan  at  from  two  to  six  inches  under  the  surface,  beneath  which  they 
reach  water  in  the  so-called  "water-gravel."  The  surface  soil  is  a 
whitish  sand  and  gravel,  with  a  mixture  of  reddish  loam.  The  south- 
ern portion  of  the  county,  especially  about  Hawpatch,  is  a  black  sandy 
soil  and  had  originally  an  extensive  growth  of  wild  plums  and  haws, 
extending  into  the  north  part  of  Noble.  Of  LaGrange  county  we 
did  not  see  as  much  as  we  desired,  but  would  indicate  the  south-west 
part  as  having  probably  considerable  deposits  of  bog  iron  ore,  as  well 
as  the  country  about  Lima. 

In  Elkhart  county  there  are  to  be  found  on  the  river  and  at  the  town 
of  the  same  name,  flourishing  flouring  mills,  also  a  paper  mill.  At 
Goshen,  the  capital,  the  water  privilege  is  also  fine  and  good  mills 
abundant.  One  in  the  process  of  erection  had  its  substantial  cellar 
walls  carried  up  of  bowlders  broken  so  as  to  give  one  flat  face.  These 
are  seen  at  various  places  piled  up  for  sale,  as  we  serve  wood,  and  selling 
for  eight  dollars  a  eord. 

We  were  informed  that  some  years  since  they  obtained  a  coarse  and 
somewhat  soft  sandstone  grit,  twelve  miles  west  of  Goshen,  from  which 
they  manufactured  grindstones.  Five  or  six  miles  north-east  of  town, 
bog  iron  ore  is  obtained  from  the  Cornell-Marsh ;  also  from  Mr.  Storm's 
place,  about  two  miles  north  of  Goshen. 

The  drift  here  and  elsewhere  affords  good  gravel  and  sand  for  ballast, 
mortar,  &e.  They  burn  some  of  their  marl  into  lime.  The  bridge 
across  the  Elkhart,  at  Goshen,  is  600  feet  long,  on  account  of  high 
water. 

Along  the  valley  of  the  head  waters  of  the  Elkhart  we  noticed  some 
Beech,  Sugar- Tree,  Black  and  White  Walnut,  Cherry,  Oak,  (white, 
black  and  red,)  of  vigorous  growth  and  ample  dimensions. 


OP  INDIANA.  199 


Poplar  (Tulip-tree)  lumber,  where  we  were  in  Goshen,  was  one  dollar 
a  hundred  for  inch  stuff;  firewood  one  dollar  and  fifty  cents  per  cord. 
In  order  to  compare  produce  in  Northern  Indiana  with  those  in  the 
Southern  part  of  the  State,  we  may  here  add  that  in  October,  1859,  the 
time  of  our  visit,  wheat  was  selling  at  a  dollar,  corn  at  twenty-five 
cents,  potatoes  the  same,  prairie  grass  five  to  six  dollars  per  ton  ;  labor 
seventy-five  cents  to  one  dollar  a  day ;  brick  four  dollars  per  thousand. 

At  Millersburg,  near  the  line  of  Elkhart  and  Noble,  we  observed 
piles  of  staves  and  lumber  ready  for  the  freight  train. 

ST.  JOSEPH  AND  LA  PORTE  COUNTIES. 

Mr.  Miller,  of  South  Bend,  a  member  of  the  State  Board  of  Agri- 
culture, after  furnishing  hospitable  entertainment,  conducted  us  to  ex- 
amine the  resources  of  St.  Joseph  county. 

They  distinguished,  besides  the  low  or  swamp-muck  lands,  three 
soils ;  the  first  and  best  is  the  bur-oak  and  prairie  land,  producing  as 
high  as  thirty  bushels  of  wheat  to  the  acre,  also  fine  crops  of  potatoes. 
Secondly,  the  soil  of  the  thick  woods,  not  quite  so  rich;  and  thirdly, 
the  black  or  scrub-oak  and  sandy  woods'  land,  of  rather  inferior  qual- 
ity. 

The  low  lands  of  the  Kankakee,  around  South  Bend,  sell,  for  agricul- 
tural purposes,  at  from  $30  to  $50. 

The  muck  or  marsh  is  from  three  to  twelve  feet  deep  in  organic  mat- 
ter, which  in  many  places  continues  to  increase  by  water,  heat,  rank 
vegetation.  &c.,  with  an  occasional  admixture  of  sand  from  below  by 
the  labors  of  craw-fish,  frogs  and  ants. 

In  these  swamps,  frequently  when  ditching  and  draining,  the  great 
deposits  of  bog-iron  ore  are  encountered,  and  their  position  often  indi- 
cated by  the  appearance  of  the  water  around,  also  by  bends  in  streams. 
The  lumps,  sometimes  eighteen  inches  through,  are  chiefly  at  one  or 
two  feet  below  the  surface.  At  Mishawaka,  Mr.  Hunt  many  years  since 
established  iron-works,  which  are  now  carried  on  by  a  highly  expe- 
rienced iron  master,  Mr.  Niles.  He  considers  this  variety  of  ore  among 
the  best  and  easiest  to  work,  next  to  the  Vermont,  superior  even  to  that 
of  the  "Hanging  Rock,"  Ohio,  and  the  hematite  of  Tennessee.  When 
prices  justified  they  manufactured  about  800  tons  per  annum,  by  using 
the  marl  for  flux,  instead  of  limestone,  and  charcoal  for  fuel.  The 
average  yield  of  the  ore  was  about  33J  per  cent.,  although  some  gives 
as  high  as  50  to  <*0  per  cent.  Th^y  n«nally  binlod  their  ore  five  or  six 


200  GEOLOGICAL   RECONNOISSANCE 

miles,  and  as  railroad  companies  increased  the  rate  of  freights,  and  at 
one  time  iron  fell  to  $17.00  a  ton,  whereas  now  it  commands,  accord- 
ing to  quality,  $27.00  to  §50.00,  they  discontinued  the  use  of  the  bog 
ore. 

Beneath  the  swamp-muck  beds,  in  which  these  valuable  deposits  are 
found,  a  shell  marl,  three  to  ten  feet  thick,  is  obtained,  in  which  are 
large  and  abundant  specimens,  some  well  preserved,  of  shells  belonging 
to  the  genera  physa,  planorbis,  cyclas  and  unio.  At  many  places  this 
is  dug  and  moulded  into  brick-shaped  masses  of  considerable  size,  so  as 
to  be  readily  piled  in  a  kiln,  burnt  and  used  for  all  purposes  to  which 
lime  is  usually  applied,  being  of  an  excellent  quality  and  white  color. 

An  extensive  manufacture  of  this  kind  is  carried  on  near  the  fine 
Catholic  College  of  Notre  Dame,  beautifully  situated  a  mile  or  two 
north  of  South  Bend. 

In  the  bed  of  the  St.  Joseph  and  in  the  banks  is  found  the  valuable 
blue  clay,  from  which  the  celebrated  buff  brick  are  manufactured.  The 
same  clay  is  moulded  into  articles  of  pottery  ware,  including  crocks  for 
stove-pipes,  &c.  In  places  this  is  a  hundred  feet  deep,  according  to  Mr. 
Dahoff  of  this  town,  and,  as  will  be  seen,  nearly  two  hundred  in  other 
localities.  The  same  authority  informed  me  that  water  is  found  usually 
at  from  thirty  to  fifty  feet  deep,  after  passing  a  few  feet  of  dark,  sandy 
loam,  about  four  of  yellowish  or  red  sand,  then  grey  sand  and  some 
gravel,  in  which  frequently  they  penetrate  from  one  to  five  thin  beds 
(seven  to  eight  inches  thick)  of  "lime  cakes"  or  u  hard-pan,"  probably 
an  indurated  marl. 

Chalybeate  springs  issue  abundantly  about  high-water  mark  from  the 
St.  Joseph  river,  in  the  vicinity  of  South  Bend. 

In  LaPorte  county,  especially  around  the  Kankakee  region,  we  saw 
abundance  of  bog  iron  ore,  one  average  specimen  of  which  afforded  us 
on  analysis  of  one-tenth  of  a  gramme,  in  the  laboratory,  63  per  cent,  of 
pure  iron. 

Regarding  the  Agricultural  District  embracing  these  two  counties,  as 
also  Marshall  and  Elkhart,  under  the  presiding  care  of  Mr.  Wm.  Mil- 
ler, that  gentleman  writes:  "There  is  bog  ore  in  great  abundance  in 
all  the  above  counties;  it  has  been  worked  at  Mishawaka,  in  St.  Joseph 
county,  also  in  LaPorte  county,  and  near  Plymouth,  in  Marshall  county. 
Bar-iron  has  been  made  in  considerable  quantities  in  St.  Joseph  and 
Marshall  counties,  and  in  Laporte  castings  have  been  made  from  the 
bog-ore."  *  "There  is  abundance  of  marl  in  all  the  northern  coun- 
ties of  the  State,  which  makes  a  superior  quality  of  lime.  The  beds 


OF  INDIANA.  201 


are  frequently  ten  feet  deep,  composed  of  shells  of  various  kinds."  * 
"  A  grindstone  quarry  was  worked  in  Elkhart  county  ;  but  abandoned 
because  the  grit  was  found  to  be  of  inferior  quality."  *  "Products — 
wheat,  corn,  oats,  potatoes  arid  beef."  *  "Soil,  sandy  loam."  *  * 
"Timber — Oak,  Ash,  Hickory,  Maple, Poplar,  Pine  and  all  timber  com- 
mon to  Indiana."  *  "  No  milk-sickness  nor  hog  cholera.  The  pota- 
to rot  and  Hessian  fly  prevail  to  some  extent.  Fruit  is  much  injured 
by  the  curculio  and  other  insects."  *  "Iron,  sulphur  and  other  springs 
are  abundant.  Diseases  mostly  bilious." 

While  in  this  county,  we  visited,  by  desire  of  His  Excellency,  the 
late  Gov.  Willard,  the  site  of  the  Northern  State  Prison,  and  examined 
pretty  thoroughly  the  region  around  Michigan  City. 

We  traveled,  near  Gosport  Mills  and  Calumet,  in  the  southern  part 
of  Porter,  over  alternations  of  low  prairies  with  a  black  subsoil,  and 
sand  ridges;  the  former  covered  sometimes  for  acres  with  nothing  but 
a  waving  level  of  yellow  helianthoid  flowers,  again  diversified  by  wil- 
lows, aspens,  flags,  indigo,  rag  weed,  Eupatorium,  golden  rod  and  hazel 
bushes,  interspersing  the  predominant  yellow  with  purple  and  pink, 
blue,  white,  and  even  black,  (the  indigo  pod,)  on  a  ground  of  green, 
enlived  probably  by  a  lake  or  pond  bearing  the  large  leaves  of  aquatic 
growth  all  over  its  surface ;  the  sand  ridges,  sometimes  a  whitish  loam, 
sometimes  a  drifting  sand,  bearing  abundant  ferns  along  the  marginal 
junction  with  the  prairie,  dotted  in  its  interior  with  Whortleberries, 
Alder-bushes,  Sumach,  Sassafras  and  Hickories,  also  large  White  Oak, 
Spanish  Oak,  and  small  Black  Jack  and  Black  Oak;  most  of  which 
gradually  gave  way  to  a  growth  of  tall  Pines  and  Tameracks,  as  we 
neared  the  Lake,  with  still  an  abundant  undergrowth  of  ferns,  espe- 
cially a  variety  with  neuropteroid  venation ;  having  a  nervures  closely 
resembling  that  of  its  great  carboniferous  prototypes  in  the  genus  Neu- 
ropteris. 

Passing,  at  the  southern  outskirts  of  the  city,  the  Penitentiary,  a 
large  saw  mill,  and  stave  and  shingle  mill,  we  entered  Michigan  City 
and  proceeded  to  Trail  creek,  which  cuts  through  the  great  sand  ridge; 
we  found  a  small  river,  with  fifteen  to  twenty  feet  of  water  near  its 
mouth  and  wide  enough  for  a  moderate  sized  vessel  to  turn  in,  cutting 
through  a  sand  drift  which  has  blown  up  to  form  a  ridge  from  100  to 
175  feet  high.  The  surveyor's  level  made  it  176  at  one  point,  and  we 
found  it  in  some  places  only  twenty  feet  wide  on  the  top.  It  extends 
west,  we  were  informed,  to  Indiana  City,  and  some  asserted  to  Chicago, 
so  closely  washed  by  the  waves  that  the  sand  lately  rolled  down  in  an 


202  GEOLOGICAL    RECONNOISSANCE 

arenaceous  avalanche,  denominated  "the  Hoosier  slide."  Yet  in  the 
early  settlement  of  the  country  between  the  lake-waters  and  this  sand 
ridge  the  mail  stage  and  other  carriages  were  driven  undisturbed  by  the 
lake  waters,  along  the  beach,  from  Michigan  City  to  Chicago.  The 
light  house  occupies  part  of  the  elevation  and  exhibits  sixty  feet  above 
its  summit  a  steady  warning  to  vessels  on  the  Lake  A  beautiful 
"lookout"  has  also  been  erected  by  the  liberality  of  Mr.  Blair,  a  citi- 
zen of  wealth  and  enterprise,  who  has  also  successfully  drained  several 
thousand  acres  of  swamps,  on  plans  hereafter  described. 

This  drifting  sand  ridge,  formerly  covered  with  pines,  is  r»ow  chiefly 
overgrown  with  stunted  Oaks,  Alders,  and  the  like. 

In  company  with  Col.  Seely,  the  Warden,  and  Major  Dunn,  one  of 
the  Commissioners,  we  examined  the  site,  plan,  and  surroundings  of 
the  Northern  State  Prison.  The  State  owns  one  hundred  acres  of  land, 
seventy  of  which  is  a  bottom  of  rich,  alluvial  sandy  loam,  cultivated  in 
corn,  potatoes  and  the  like ;  the  thirty  acres  on  more  elevated  ground 
being  reserved  for  buildings,  &c.  The  Prison  walls  were  already,  on 
Sept.  10, 1860,  when  we  were  thero,  laid  up  to  grade,  and  enclosed 
about  eight  acres.  The  foundation  for  a  cell-house  to  contain  300  pris- 
oners was  already  laid,  as  also  for  a  workshop  200  feet  long.  In  a 
brick  kiln,  adjoining,  half  a  million  of  brick  were  nearly  ready  for  use, 
and,  for  three  weeks  previous  to  our  visit,  twenty  car  loads  of  substan- 
tial building  rock  had  been  arriving  daily  from  Joliet,  Illinois. 

For  the  advantages  to  them  of  trade,  the  Michigan  Central  Railroad 
Company  donated  to  our  State,  with  the  right  of  way  for  all  time  to 
come,  a  track  costing  a  thousand  dollars  and  connecting  with  their 
own.  From  this  facility  the  blue  clay  for  buff  brick,  as  well  as  super- 
posed clay  for  red  brick,  are  brought  on  the  track  twelve  miles  from 
near  Gosserts  Mills,  at  a  less  cost,  it  is  estimated,  than  would  suffice  to 
cart  them  from  points  much  nearer  at  which  they  are  also  found.  The 
Warden's  buildings  are  to  be  on  the  east  of  the  Prison,  and  a  handsome 
pine  grove  skirts  it  on  the  west.  One  hundred  and  eighty  prisoners 
were  at  that  time  employed  in  performing  the  principal  labor,  with  the 
above  large  amount  of  constructive  materials.  A  steam  engine  and 
fixtures  were  already  on  the  ground. 

With  these  gentlemen  and  others  who  were  so  obliging  as  to  accom- 
pany us,  we  examined  a  saline  sulphuroted  hydrogen  spring,  about  three 
miles  from  town,  belonging  to  Mr.  James  Walker;  it  readily  blackens 
silver  and  deposits  a  thick  sediment  of  sulphur.  The  large  hollow 
gum  sunk 'by  the  early  sottVrs  \*  much  c-nawprl  all  aronnd  by  the  deer 


OF   INDIANA.  203 


and  other  wild  animals  resorting  to  the  attractive  saline  "Lick."  A 
chalybeate  spring  flows  out  at  a  short  distance  from  the  sulphur  water. 
Some  Beech  timber  was  noticed  around  this  spring. 

On  returning  towards  town  we  passed  a  fine  cool  spring  filtering 
through  sand  and  flowing  out  over  the  blue  clay.  The  water  is  so 
highly  prized  as  to  sell  in  town  for  one  cent  per  bucket.  About  a  quar- 
ter of  a  mile  before  reaching  the  Lake  we  pass  a  drifting  sand  bank, 
about  600  feet  long,  200  feet  wide,  and  averaging  from  50  to  6,0  feet 
above  the  Lake  level,  already  giving  growth  to  dwarf  oaks,  asclepias 
and  other  vegetation.  About  100  bushels  of  Huckleberries  are  shipped 
daily  from  here  during  the  fruit  season,  requiring  an  extra  freight  train. 

The  city  contains  about  4,000  inhabitants,  and  if,  without  too  much 
expense,  the  harbor  could  be  kept  free  from  sand  bars,  and  the  exten- 
sive piers  or  projecting  wharf,  for  loading  vessels  of  somewhat  heavy 
draught  and  tonnage,  were  maintained  at  all  times  in  thorough  repair, 
the  facilities  here  for  cheap  transportation  would  be  of  great  value  to  the 
northern  counties.  As  a  matter  of  home  interest  it  seems  highly  desirable 
that  Indiana  should  maintain  here  or  at  some  other  point,  if  there  be  a 
better,  along  her  Lake-coast,  a  harbor  worthy  of  the  State ;  otherwise 
her  commerce  is  necessarily  diverted  to  outlets  in  the  adjoining  States, 
the  cost  of  transportation  thereby  increased  to  our  citizens,  and  the 
profits  of  the  carrying  trade  also  lost  to  them.  We  were  informed  that 
wheat  and  similar  articles  could  be  shipped  on  the  Lake  for  five  cents, 
when  by  railroad  the  cost  would  be  twenty;  also,  that  pine  lumber, 
iron,  copper,  &c.,  would  be  imported  at  lower  rates  to  furnish  raw  ma- 
terials and  quicken  domestic  manufactures  into  greater  energy. 

When  the  winds  prevail  from  the  north  they  bring  by  their  force, 
and  the  action  of  the  agitated  waters,  quantities  of  sand  out  of  this 
southern  beach  of  the  Lake,  which  material  again  sometimes  washes 
out  to  form  bars ;  but  1,000  feet  from  shore  all  the  Lake  bottom  is  said 
to  be  a  hard  clay;  at  points  on  the  shore  this  clay  shows  itself  nearly 
as  hard  as  rock;  at  other  places  black  sand  was  abundant,  and  a  few 
rounded  fragments  of  rock,  chiefly  granitic  or  arenaceous. 

Going  south  towards  the  capital,  LaPorte,  we  passed,  at  Gen.  Orr'e, 
on  the  north  edge  of  Door  Prairie,  the  height  of  land  306.5  feet  by  the 
railroad  survey,  above  Lake  Michigan,  and  224  feet  higher  than  La- 
Porte,  others  consider  "Bald  Point,"  near  there,  as  even  higher.  Judge 
Lawson  informed  us  that  some  of  the  lakes  around  that  county  seat 
are  about  200  feet  above  the  surface  of  Lake  Michigan.  Our  baromet- 
rical observations,  allowing  for  the  daily  meridian  rise,  made  Stony 
13 


204  GEOLOGICAL   RECONNOISSANCE 

Lake  somewhat  over  200  feet  above  Lake  Michigan.  The  periodical 
fluetations,  diurnal,  secular,  &c.,  which  all  these  northern  lakes  undergo, 
have  been  made  the  subject  of  a  paper  by  Col.  Whittlesey,  pulished  un- 
der the  auspices  of  the  Smithsonian  Institution.  Some  of  the  smaller 
lakes  have  no  visible  irftet,  nor  outlet. 

The  prairies,  with  Boneset,  Indigo,  Golden-rod,  ferns,  &c.,  inter- 
spersed with  oak  groves  and  "  barrens,"  continued  to  Kankakee  bridge, 
where  our  barometer  made  the  river  at  least  fifty  feet  higher  than  Lake 
Michigan. 

PORTER  AND  LAKE  COUNTIES. 

In  Porter  county  we  had  an  excellent  opportunity,  enjoying  the  hos- 
pitality and  guidance  of  Mr.  Freeman,  member  of  the  State  Board  and 
Swamp  Land  Commissioner,  to  examine  thoroughly  the  bog-iron  de- 
posits of  the  Kankakee  country,  and  other  portions  of  his  District. 
We  took  specimens  for  analysis  from  section  5,  township  33  north, 
range  6  west.  We  also  took  samples  of  the  different  soils,  prairie,  oak 
openings,  &c.,  on  Mr.  Cornell's  farm,  S.  E.  quarter  of  section  8,  township 
33  north,  range  6  west,  and  from  that  of  Mr.  Stoddard,  N.  W.  quarter 
of  section  32,  township  34  north,  range  5  west,  also  from  Mr.  Milan 
Cornell's,  on  N".  E.  quater  of  section  31,  township  35  north,  range  5 
west,  which  soils,  however,  were  not  reached  in  analysis  by  the  limited 
number  to  which  Dr.  Peter  was  necessarily  at  present  restricted  for 
want  of  additional  funds.  ...rji4..« 

From  these  low  prairies  they  cut  from  two  to  four  tons  of  a  grass 
which  they  denominate  "Blue  Joint,"  (Calamagrostis  Canadensis). 
The  yield  of  wheat,  corn,  (40  to  60  bushels,)  clover,  sorghum,  pota- 
toes, pumpkins,  &c.,  is  also  good.  We  observed  likewise  some  good 
apple  orchards.  Among  the  natural  growth  were  noticed  boneset, 
ferns,  wild  indigo,  vast  quantities  of  dwarf  willows,  which,  according 
to  the  old  settlers,  would  soon  overspread  these  prairies,  unless  the  grass 
was  burned,  cocklebur,  (Xanthium  strumerium,  var.  echinatum,)  May 
weed,  (Maruta  cotula,)  often  called  in  the  west  Dogfennel,*  some  mul- 
lein, blackberries  and  strawberries.  Cranberries  grow  in  the  north 
part  of  Porter  county.  The  quaking  aspen  (Populus  tremuloides)  and 
sassafras  are  also  fast  taking  possession  of  the  prairie.  The  groves, 


*Some,  I  think,  call  the  wild  Chamomile  (Matricaria  foetida)  Dogfennel;  but  there  is  usu- 
ally great  confusion  about  popular  terms. 


OF     INDIANA.  205 


singularly  enough  called  "Oak  Openings/'  are  chiefly  here  of  Bur- 
Oak,  with  some  Hickory,  (usually  Carya  amera). 

About  a  mile  west  of  Valparaiso,  on  an  elevation,  red  brick  are  burnt 
from  the  clay,  although  other  portions  of  the  county  furnish  the  mate- 
rial for  the  buff  brick.  Thirty  or  forty  feet  below  the  clay  of  Valpa- 
raiso about  twenty-five  feet  of  rich,  black  muck,  then  marl,  sometimes 
with  helix,  paludina  and  other  shells,  occasionally  destitute  of  any, 
and  below  this  a  hardened  calcareous  tufa,  strongly  impregnated  with 
iron.  This  they  occasionally  burn  into  lime,  but  it  does  not  furnish  so 
good  an  article  as  the  shell  marl,  on  account  of  the  iron.  Beneath  this 
there  is  another  swamp  muck  bed  exposed  in  this  hill-side.  J^ear  here 
was  an  old  grave  yard,  from  which  bodies  were  removed  when  they  de- 
sired to  form  a  new  Cemetery.  When  taken  up  the  corpses  were  found 
encrusted  with  the  above  calcareous  tufa,  and  in  tolerable  preservation, 
except  parts  of  the  extremities,  the  broken  sections  of  some  exhibiting 
an  internal  hollow. 

On  Mr.  Howell's  elevated  land,  about  three-quarters  of  a  mile  east  of 
Valparaiso,  on  section  30,  township  35  north,  range  5  west,  we  were 
shown  good  grey  crystalline  limestone  which  had  been  quarried  and 
burned  into  lime;  but  as  the  layer  is  only  two  or  three  feet  thick,  and 
apparently  local  in  extent,  it  was  soon  abandoned.  Unfortunately  no 
fossils  were  found,  the  lithographic  or  lithological  character,  however, 
indicates  a  rock  of  Upper  Silurian  age. 

The  parallelism  of  the  sand  ridges  in  this  and  other  counties,  south 
of  Lake  Michigan,  to  the  curve  of  the  lake  shore,  as  well  as  other 
points  connected  with  this  great  expanse  of  water,  will  be  discussed  in 
treating  of  the  physical  geography. 

Although  portions  of  the  Kankakee  marsh  are  often  rather  wet  in 
spring  for  plowing,  yet  we  observed  some  fine  prairie  land  here  drained 
by  Hog  creek,  which  was  well  fenced,  and  bearing  good  crops  of  wheat, 
corn,  and  of  the  "Blue  Joint  grass,"  said  to  equal  our  domestic  "Tim- 
othy" or  Herd's  grass.  The  low  prairie  is  in  places,  white  with  dead 
shells,  chiefly  of  the  genus  paludina,  supposed  to  have  been  killed  by  the 
drying  of  the  marsh. 

In  Lake  county,  near  the  Illinois  line,  we  ascended  gradually  from 
the  Kankakee  region  to  the  Lake.  Some  of  the  low  prairies,  as  we 
were  informed  by  an  intelligent  farmer,  who  for  many  years  boated  on 
Kankakee  river,  have  latterly  been  drained,  and  where  formerly  (not 
over  three  or  four  years  since,)  a  man  would  have  mired,  he  now  hauls 
tons  of  hay  with  wagon  and  team.  Bog-ore  is  abundant  here ;  and 


206  GEOLOGICAL    RECONNOISSANCE 

land  sells  at  from  five  to  eight  dollars  per  acre.  Near  here,  on  an  arm 
of  the  Grand  prairie,  an  Artesian  boring  has  been  made  which  passed 
through  fifteen  feet  of  clay,  then  fifty-four  of  sand,  then  six  feet  of 
blue  clay  or  hard-pan,  total  seventy-six  feet.  Some  water  was  obtained 
at  thirty- two  feet,  and  finally  a  good  supply.  On  other  adjacent  parts 
of  these  prairies,  they  reach  water  in  quicksand,  after  passing  through 
about  twenty-two  feet  of  clay.  In  the  barrens  or  groves  they  com- 
monly obtain  water  after  penetrating  thirty  to  thirty-five  feet  of  sand. 

From  these  low  lands  of  rich,  black  soil,  and  some  bowlders  and 
gravel,  with  the  wild  indigo,  ferns,  wild  red-top,  &c.,  and  island-like 
barrens  of  Black  Jack,  Black  Oak,  Sumach,  Hazel-bushes,  wild  Plums 
and  Haws,  we  rose  gradually  to  rolling  prairies  of  Flutter-dock  and 
Rosin  weed ;^  then  to  groves  and  ridges,  with  Cedar  Lake  in  the  dis- 
tance, and  the  head  waters  of  West  Creek  on  the  west,  to  a  "  divortia 
aquarium,"  or  water  shed,  a  few  miles  south  of  Crown  Point.  This 
ridge  is  something  more  than  100  feet  above  Kankakee  river,  and  com- 
posed chiefly  of  altered  or  late  Quaternary  deposits,  not  having  any 
bowlders  or  much  rounded  gravel;  but  vast  quantities  of  sandstone  de- 
tritus, angular  and  shaly,  with  a  growth  of  scrubby  Oaks  and  Hicko- 
ries. Descending,  gradually,  nearly  to  our  former  Kankakee  level,  we 
reached  Crown  Point  on  a  rich  prairie,  with  some  bowlders  and  groves, 
passing  by  fields  which  had  evidently  borne  heavy  crops  of  oats.  At 
Crown  Point,  the  capital,  Capt.  Smith,  formerly  of  the  16th  U.  S.  In- 
fantry, and  now  Swamp  Land  Commissioner,  indicated  the  low  grounds 
between  the  ridges  as  being  rich  in  bog-iron  ore,  but  especially  the  re- 
gions between  the  two  Calumets  and  from  Great  Calumet  to  the  Lake. 

Crossing  Deep  river  and  progressing  amid  rich  black  muck  prairies 
of  abundant  ferns,  such  as  Aspidium  marginale,  of  the  wild  Sunflow- 
ers, (II.  rigidus  occidentalis  and  mollis)  the  ubiquitous  Iron-weed, 
(Vernouia  fasciculata)  Boneset,  and  a  creeper  with  a  cucumber-like  seed 
vessel,  (probably  Echinocystus  lobata,)  with  more  rarely  Flutter-dock 
and  Rosin  weed,  quaking  aspen  and  willows,  or  farms  with  Orange 
hedges,  Sorghum  crops,  Buck-wheat,  corn  and  orchards,  we  reached 
Robert's  Station  to  camp,  and  resume  the  route  already  described  in 
detailing  Porter  county  and  its  resources. 

To,  the  Zoologist  it  may  not  be  uninteresting  to  learn  that  we  saw 
several  specimens  of  the  Batrachian  reptile,  Menobranchus,  taken  by 
fishermen  from  the  Lake,  while  we  were  at  Chicago,  Illinois,  twelve 
miles  from  the  State  line. 

In  Lake  county  we  disturbed  frequent  flocks  of  cranes  (probably 


OP  INDIANA.  207 


Grus  Americana)  and  sometimes  three  or  four  white  Herons,  which  ap- 
peared in  the  distance  to  be  the  Ardea  leuce. 

DEKALB  AND  NOBLE  COUNTIES. 

Of  DeKalb  county  we  saw  but  little,  except  in  its  south-west  corner, 
on  our  way  from  Legineer  to  Fort  Wayne.  Judging  from  what  we 
saw  and  heard,  wre  should  say  that  the  soil  is  generally  productive,  the 
woodless  tracts  being  a  sandy  loam,  the  forests  more  clayey,  the  land 
sometimes  heavily  timbered  with  little  or  no  underbrush,  sometimes 
comprising  low  prairie.  Being  meandered  by  the  St.  Joseph  of  the 
Maumee  and  its  tributaries,  the  county  is  sufficiently  undulating  for 
drainage,  and  well  watered  for  agricultural  purposes. 

Bog-ore  is  found  in  many  parts  of  the  marshy  prairies,  especially 
near  its  junction  with  Noble  county. 

At  Legineer,  in  Noble  county,  we  observed  piles  of  bowlders  corded 
for  sale,  also  staves  and  lumber,  indicating  abundance  of  timber.  At 
Eochester,  about  three-quarters  of  a  mile  east  of  Legineer,  bog-ore  was 
worked,  which  they  dug  a  few  miles  south  of  that  place ;  this  furnace 
was  not  visited  for  want  of  time.  The  ore  brought  from  Avilla  is  used 
for  chimney  backs,  because  it  does  not  burn  out.  There  is  also  abun 
dance  of  marl,  similar  to  that  in  St.  Joseph,  although  it  does  not  cal- 
cine quite  so  freely.  At  Rome  there  is  a  chalybeate  spring. 

Between  Legineer  and  [Kendallville,  Beech  timber  is  not  uncommon^ 
and  where  ditches  were  cut  for  drainage  we  observed  a  very  black  soil, 
often  underlaid  by  gravel.  Several  gravel  quarries  were  open  for  the 
transportation  of  ballast  to  the  railroad;  in  some  we  examined,  the 
gravel  was  in  a  bed  from  six  to  twelve  feet  thick.  Near  Kendallville, 
at  Lisbon,  is  a  height  of  land  or  summit  level,  whence  waters  run  south 
to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and  north-east  to  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence. 
Somewhat  north  of  Kendallville  to  the  Michigan  line  are  found  oak 
openings,  with  no  undergrowth,  and  with  yellow  hard-pan  at  from  two 
to  six  inches  below  the  surface.  For  wheat  this  is  first-rate,  for  corn 
second-rate  land.  South  of  these  are  the  so-called  "bastard  openings," 
with  Black  Walnut,  Poplar  and  Blue  Ash,  undergrowth  Hazel  and 
Sassafras.  This  is  considered  here  first  quality  of  soil  fcr  all  farming 
purposes,  affording  40  to  45  bushels  of  corn  per  acre.  It  is  a  blackish 
sandy  loam,  with  gravelly  subsoil. 

Adjoining  the  lakes  and  streams  they  have  also  wet  prairies,  with 
muck  or  humus  at  top  and,  immediately  below,  a  quicksand  and  gravel, 


208  GEOLOGICAL   RECONNOISSANCE 


then  marl  and  blue  clay.     They  sometimes  dig  wells  through  the  hard- 
pan  that  require  no  curbing. 

KOSCIUSKO,  MARSHALL  AND  STABKE  COUNTIES. 

The  northern  portion  of  Kosciusko  is  chiefly  prairie,  the  southern 
heavily  timbered. 

Near  the  junction  of  Marshall  and  Kosciusko,  a  farmer  showed  us  a 
variety  of  maize  called  "Butcher  Corn,"  deep  red,  heavy  grained  and 
long-eared,  represented  as  productive. 

In  the  northern  part  of  Kosciusko  down  to  Leesburgh,  which  is  about 
100  feet  above  the  level  of  "Yellow  river,"  at  Plymouth,  we  observed 
a  heavy  drift  of  sand  and  bowlders,  exhibiting  at  some  sections  about 
30  feet,  over  clay;  the  soil,  black,  with  occasional  Beech  timber  and  nu- 
merous ferns.  Continuing  south  we  found  good  farms  with  substan- 
tial barns  and  excellent  roads;  crops  of  buckwheat  and  clover  luxu- 
riant. 

As  we  entered  the  timber  we  enumerated  Beech,  Sugar-Tree,  Elm, 
Oak,  Gum,  Hickory,  Poplar,  White  and  Black  Walnut,  then  crossed 
low  ground  on  corduroy,  with  ferns,  flags,  smart  weed,  Willow,  Swamp- 
Maple,  Blue  Ash,  &c.;  succeeded  by  the  silkweed  or  milkweed  (Ascle- 
pias  cornuti)  and  Boneset  for  some  miles.  We  crossed  the  railroad  track 
at  Bourbon,  a  good-sized  thriving  place,  on  a  level  a  few  feet  higher 
than  the  fern  thicket  or  brake.  Near  here  some  of  the  tributaries  of 
Tippecanoe  take  their  origin,  and  we  shortly  reach  the  deep-green 
shades  of  the  Tamerack.  Many  of  these  were  noticed  to  be  dead,  per- 
haps from  the  draining  of  those  lands  rendering  the  soil  too  dry  for  its 
favorable  growth.  An  industrious  and  enterprising  population  has  set- 
tled around  here,  evinced  by  the  wheat,  which  the  Hon.  Mr.  Thralls,  of 
Warsaw,  was  taking  in  at  the  rate  of  1,200  bushels  per  day,  and  which 
averages  considerably  over  sixty  pounds  to  the  busheL  This  gentleman 
informed  me  that  abundance  of  bog-irorl  ore  had  been  dug  near  town. 
It  was  first  discovered  in  1838,  and  an  account  of  it  was  published  in 
the  "Eaton  Register,"  Ohio.  As  yet  they  have  no  furnace  nearer  than 
Rochester.  Ore  is  also  dug  near  Milford  and  sent  to  the  Rochester  and 
Mishawaka  furnaces.  Near  town,  in  digging  wells,  water  is  reached  at 
sixteen  or  twenty  feet  in  sand,  after  passing  through  gravel  and  two  to 
four  feet  of  hard-pan,  made  up  of  pebbles  cemented  in  clay.  On  the 
north  siee  of  Turkey- creek  prairie  the  same  materials,  which  extend 
but  from  nine  to  fourteen  feet  in  depth,  occupy  in  the  same  prairie,  two 


OF  INDIANA.  209 


miles  south,  a  bed  forty  to  forty-five  feet  deep.  Yet  the  surface  of  the 
prairie,  tested  by  the  barometer,  varied  scarcely  a  foot  in  level.  It  is  dry 
enough  for  an  abundant  growth  of  Rosin  weed  and  Flutter  dock. 
Ferns  also  constitute  here  a  very  prevalent  vegetation;  in  this  county 
most  of  those  collected  are  of  the  Bracken  genus  "  Pteris,"  with  the 
spores  in  a  continuous  marginal  line  of  fructification. 

We  made  Eagle  Lake  from  twenty  to  twenty-five  feet  lower  than 
Warsaw,  and  then  ascended  sixty  feet  or  more,  over  sand,  gravel  and 
abundant  bowlders,  with  Quaternary  hills  still  twenty  to  twenty-five 
feet  ab3ve  us,  covered  chiefly  with  Oak  timber.  Although  some  Su- 
mach grew  at  this  elevation,  the  corn  looked  very  well,  while  orchards 
and  substantial  barns  gave  evidence  of  a  good  and  productive  agricul- 
ture. Near  Fairview  we  passed  a  saw  mill  and  brick-kiln  ;  the  clay 

*  «/ 

indieated  by  the  latter  soon  giving  growth  to  a  predominance  of  Beech 
timber,  as  we  neared  the  line  of  Whitley  county. 

In  Marshall  county,  which  we  entered  prior  to  the  examination  of 
Kosciusko,  at  its  north-west  corner,  after  crossing  the  Kankakee  bridge 
in  Laporte  county,  we  found  near  "West  York  sandy  barrens  with  White 
Oak  and  Hickory,  about  thirty  feet  higher  than  the  river,  also  some 
small  prairies  and  bowlders,  about  twenty  feet  above  the  Kankakee 
level  at  the  bridge;  and  finally  a  small  lake  about  a  mile  long  by  half  a 
mile  wide?  which  they  seemed  to  be  draining.  The  bowlders  were 
of  good  size,  mostly  granitic.  The  prairie  growth  was  indigo  plant, 
ascelepias,  Helianthoid,  yellow  flowers,  golden-rod  and  ferns ;  in  low 
spots  Eupatorium,  Willow  and  Aspen,  on  the  higher  sand  ridges,  trend- 
ing here  chiefly  east  and  west,  small  pines,  oaks  and  hazel  bushes. 
The  prairie  subsoil  appeared  from  creek  sections  to  be  a  blue  clay. 

As  we  approached  Plymouth,  the  county  seat,  the  timber-  became 
larger,  being  Hickory,  Swamp  Maple,  Sassafras  and  White  Oak;  occa- 
sionally we  passed,  on  "corduroy,"  swales  with  abundant  ferns,  iron 
weed,  smart  weed  and  some  bowlders.  Nine  different  species  of  ferns 
were  identified  here,  chiefly  of  the  Tribe  Aspidiese,  represented  near 
Plymouth  by  the  three  genera  Aspidium,  Onocleaand  Cystopteris;  also 
the  gracefully  waving  Maiden-hair,  Adiantum  pedatum,  sole  represen- 
tative here  of  the  Pteridean  tribe  so  common  in  Kosciusko  county.  Of 
the  True  Fern  Family  only  one  species,  the  Beech  Polypody,  was  ob- 
tained ;  of  the  Adder's-Tongue  Family,  a  Botrychium,  and  of  the  Flow- 
ering Fern  Family  an  Osmunda,  (probably  O.  cinnamomea,)  with  its 
high  and  separate  central  fertile  fronds,  a  fern  found  by  us  so  abun- 
dantly in  the  counties  rich  in  disintegrating  aluminous  shales. 


210  GEOLOGICAL  RECONNOISSANCE 

Plymouth,  the  thriving  county  seat,  containing  about  1,500  inhabi- 
tants, and  surrounded  by  an  industrious  population,  some  of  them  Ger- 
mans, is  in  its  lower  part  about  twenty  feet  above  Yellow  river,  a  tribu- 
tary of  the  Kankakee,  and  by  our  barometrical  observations  about  the 
same  level  here  as  the  Kankakee  at  the  LaPorte  county  bridge,  and 
which,  judging  from  the  Canal  Engineer's  Surveys,  (as  by  their  estimate 
Yellow  river,  ten  miles  from  its  mouth,  is  690  feet  above  the  sea,)  can 
not  vary  much,  at  Plymouth,  from  700  feet  above  the  level  of  the 
ocean. 

Bog-ore  is  abundant  near  town  and  works  have  been  carried  on,  a  few 
miles  south  of  town,  which  we  would  have  examined  had  we  not  been 
informed  that  the  furnace  was  not  then  in  operation. 

In  digging  wells  around  here  they  pass  through  from  two  to  three 
feet  of  gravel  and  reach  yellow  clay. 

As  we  traveled  south-east  towards  Kosciusko  county,  sand,  gravel 
and  bowlders  continued,  with  some  rich,  black  soil,  occasionally,  and 
Beech  timber,  varied  by  a  White  Walnut  and  Tulip-tree  ridge  of  more 
arenaceous  character.  Ferns  were  sometimes  still  so  abundant  as  to 
constitute  a  "  fern-brake,"  if  this  be  not  tautology,  or  perhaps  more 
properly  a  "Bracken-thicket." 

Of  Starke  county  we  saw  less  than  we  should  have  done  could  we  have 
crossed  the  Kankakee  lower  down;  but  as  the  Upper  Silurian  rocks 
make  their  appearance  a  few  feet  below  the  general  surface  in  the  north- 
west part  of  Pulaski,  it  seems  probable  that  the  disintegration  of  the 
superincumbent  black  aluminous  shales,  of  Devonian  age,  may  have 
contributed,  to  some  extent,  towards  giving  this  Kankakee  region  its 
peculiar  character,  modified,  no  doubt,  somewhat  by  the  subsequent 
drift. 

In  boring  near  the  edge  of  Marshall  county  they  penetrated  about 
100  feet  of  sharp  sand. 

Although  portions  of  the  railroad  track  are  laid  on  piles,  in  order  to 
avoid  the  water  during  the  wet  season,  yet  some  of  the  prairie  farms 
in  this  county  seemed  to  be  productive,  having  large  and  promising 
corn  fields. 

The  cat-tail  flag  (Typha  latifolia  and  angustifolia)  is  very  abundant, 
and  being  used  extensively  by  coopers  for  tightening  the  stave-joints 
might  perhaps  pay  for  exportation  to  places  where  it  does  not  grow. 

The  railroad  conductor  informed  us  that  the  bog-ore  of  this  county 
sometimes  extends  to  a  depth  of  twenty  feet. 

At  Sail  Pierre  there  is  an  extensive  sand  ridge  bearing  E.  N.  E.  and 


OF  INDIANA.  211 


W.  S.  W.,  forming  oak  openings  ten  or  fifteen  feet  higher  than  the 
prairies  around.  From  some  of  the  former  a  pure  clear  sand  is  carried 
out  for  ballast.  A  few  bowlders  show  themselves  occasionally. 

JASPER  AND  NEWTON  COUNTIES. 

The  great  Quaternary  ridge  of  the  Grand  Prairie  culminating  in 
Mounts  Gilbo  and  ISTebo,  gives  origin  to  several  head  waters  flowing 
north  and  south.  About  three  miles  north  of  the  Benton  county  line 
in  Jasper,  following  Carpenter's  creek,  one  of  the  above-mentioned 
sources  which  flows  north  into  the  Troquois  river,  we  found  the  bluff 
banks  of  the  creek  composed  of  eighteen  to  twenty  feet  of  black,  bitu- 
minous, aluminous  shales  of  Devonian  age,  which  show  themselves  on 
the  Wabash  at  Delphi  and  Americus,  and  which  has  been  thinned  out 
so  that,  at  some  points  on  the  creek,  while  tracing  the  slate  a  mile  and 
a  half,  we  found  the  silico-magnesian  limestone  of  Upper  Silurian  date, 
the  same  found  abundantly  further  east  in  White  and  Pulaski  counties. 
Mr.  Jordan  now  owns  the  land  formerly  the  property  of  an  early  set- 
tler and  hunter,  Carpenter,  whose  name  the  Grove  and  Creek  now  bear 
from  his  having  died  and  been  buried  there.  Close  to  Mr.  Jordan's 
house,  which  is  built  on  the  edge  of  the  grove,  they  quarry  sandstone 
from  an  upper  bed  overlying  these  aluminous  shales,  being  thirty  feet 
higher  by  the  barometer.  The  strike  of  this  Knob-sandstone  extends, 
according  to  Mr.  Jordan,  as  much  as  ten  miles  in  a  northerly  direction, 
passing  east  of  Rensselaer,  the  Devonian  disappearing  here  as  the  dip 
is  quite  perceptible  in  a  westerly  direction.  This  we  afterwards  veri- 
fied by  a  visit  to  the  Phillips'  quarry  hereafter  described,  when  visiting 
that  town. 

When  Mr.  Jordan  first  settled  here,  he  could  see  a  hog  anywhere  in 
his  grove,  when  they  happened  to  be  in  there;  now  he  looks  in  vain 
as  the  undergrowth  forms  a  thicket  of  Hazel,  Sassafras  and  Hickory 
bushes. 

At  Rensseluer  we  crossed  the  Iroquois  river  and  found  several  feet  in 
thickness,  exposed,  of  a  yellowish,  silico-calcareous  rock,  breaking  in  ir- 
regular masses,  having  calc-spar  and  indistinct  casts  of  fossils,  strati- 
graphical  ly  fifty  feet  lower  than  the  base  of  the  sandstone  at  Carpen- 
ter's Grove.  We  finally  recognized  Stromatopora  concentrica,  confirm- 
ing the  previous  opinion  of  its  Upper  Silurian  age.  Here  it  is  too 
cherty  to  burn  into  lime ;  but  a  mile  below  town  they  have  lime-kilns, 
and  Mr.  Alters  has  a  good  quarry  six  miles  north-west  from  Carpenter's 


212  GEOLOGICAL  RECONNOISSANCE 

Grove.  Taking  an  easterly  direction,  somewhat  south,  towards  Brad- 
ford, we  passed  numerous  bowlders  and  saw  some  fine  Merino  sheep, 
clover  and  sorghum  fields;  at  about  three  miles  from  town  we  reached 
the  sandstone  quarry,  which  we  were  seeking.  It  is  chiefly  on  the 
property  of  Mr.  Simon  Phillips  and  can  be  struck  anywhere,  on  about 
an  eight  acre  tract,  at  from  two  to  five  feet  below  the  level  of  the  prai- 
rie, and  twenty-five  to  thirty  above  the  level  of  the  Iroquois  river  at 
Kensselaer.  It  is  never  struck  in  digging  wells  on  the  north  side  of 
the  river.  The  stratum  is  quarried  in  slabs  from  one  to  two  feet  thick, 
sometimes  of  a  coarse  grit,  at  others  resembling  the  freestone  overlying 
the  Upper  Silurian  in  the  Wabash  bank  a  few  miles  below  Logansport, 
thus  forming  a  valuable  building  material.  The  dip  here  appeared 
rather  southerly  of  west,  whereas  at  Rensselaer  it  appeared  to  be  north 
of  west,  and  at  one  point  appeared  to  have  an  anticlinal  axis. 

Returning  to  Rensselaer,  we  took  the  Chicago  road  towards  Morocco, 
passing  Osage  hedges  and  bowlders  scattered  over  the  prairie,  in  which 
flourished  the  rosin  weed,  flutter  dock,  coarse  grapes,  white  clover, 
golden  rod,  smart  weed,  iron  weed,  rag  weed  (Ambrosia  bidentata)  and 
wild  indigo;  the  oak  groves  occupying  ridges  of  sand,  gravel  and 
bowlders,  with  sometimes  marshy  sloughs  or  swales  between  the  ridges, 
if  the  interval  happened*  to  be  of  narrow  dimensions. 

We  were  informed  that  in  the  western  part  of  the  county  a  thin  lime- 
stone is  occasionally  found,  which  from  its  position  and  the  character 
given  in  describing  it,  would  appear  to  be  sub-carboniferous  limestone. 

As  we  traversed  Beaver  prairie  and  the  southern  portion  of  Newton 
county,  generally,  the  prairie  and  bowlders  continued ;  but  as  we  neared 
Morocco,  the  soil  became  whiter  looking,  being  comparatively  high  and 
dry.  This  town,  the  county  seat  of  the  newly  organized  county,  New- 
ton, taken  from  Jasper,  is  by  our  barometer  about  100  feet  above  the 
bed  of  the  Iroquois,  at  Rensselaer;  but  as  a  thunder  storm  overtook  us 
as  we  entered  town  this  level  may  require  some  correction.  However, 
the  barometer  still  indicating  the  same  reading  next  morning,  there  is 
probably  not  much  error.  This  place  proved  very  interesting  from  the 
Artesian  boring  undertaken  at  the  steam  mill  by  Mr.  G.  W.  Clark,  who 
had  then  penetrated  128  feet,  and  intends  continuing  the  work.  At  72 
feet  below  the  surface  they  encountered  a  few  feet  of  sand  ;  but  with  that 
exception  the  128  feet  proved  a  pure  clay,  becoming  bluer,  as  they 
bored  further.  Samples  were  taken  for  analysis  at  different  depths.  It 
seems  almost  destitute  of  silicious  ingredients,  and  would  make  a  val- 
uable clay  for  many  purposes.  With  an  Oberhaeuser,  magnifying  300 


OF  INDIANA.  213 


diameters,  no  microscopic-organisms  could  be  detected  in  this  clay,  even 
after  moistening. 

Another  boring  was  made  at  Brook,  on  the  Iroquois,  over  100  feet 
deep,  through  a  considerable  amount  of  gravel  before  reaching  the  clay, 
which  then  continued  uninterruptedly. 

Few,  if  any,  bowlders  were  observed  after  leaving  Morocco,  on  the 
route  towards  Eeaver  Lake;  the  country  here  is  father  sparsely  settled, 
yet  some  fine  low  prairies  exhibit  an  extensive  growth  of  a  grass,  which 
we  could  scarcely  distinguish  from  tame  red-top.  Ferns  and  mimosa 
bushes  were  common  as  we  approached  the  sand  ridges,  with  scrubby 
timber.  We  disturbed  several  flocks  of  cranes  and  a  few  fine  white 
specimens  of  the  genus  Ardea.  probably  the  A.  leuce. 

We  have  been  gradually  descending  as  we  pass  near  Beaver  Lake, 
being  now  at  least  a  hundred  feet  below  the  level  of  Morocco,  until 
finally  at  the  Kankakee  crossing  in  Illinois,*  (there  being  no  suitable 
bridge  or  ferry  short  of  Momence  on  the  west,  or  St.  Joseph  county  on 
the  east,)  the  barometer  made  the  bed  of  the  river  180  feet  below  the 
steam-mill  at  Morocco. 

A  calcareous  tufa  is  dug  in  this  county  just  below  the  humus  or  swamp 
muck,  which  becomes  very  solid  on  exposure  tathe  atmosphere. 

Beaver  Lake  has  been  purchased  and  partially  drained  by  Major 
Dunn  and  Mr.  M.  Bright,  being  forty  feet  above  high  water  in  the  Kan- 
kakee  river,  at  its  nearest  point,  which  is  five  miles  distant.  Already 
between  8,000  and  9,000  acres  of  marsh  have  been  drained  and  a  por- 
tion cultivated.  One  of  the  renters,  in  digging  his  well,  went  through 
twenty  feet  of  pure  black  swamp  muck,  chiefly  decaying  or  decayed 
vegetable  matter,  woody  fibre,  leaves,  ferns,  mosses,  &c. 

Bogus  Island,  in  the  centre  of  the  lake,  so  called  from  its  formerly  hav- 
ing been  the  resort  of  counterfeiters,  is  covered  with  wild  Black  Cherry 
Trees :  (The  Cerasus  Virginiana,  of  Michaux,  and  the  Padus  serotina, 
of  Ehrhart.)  As  the  remains  of  beaver  dams  are  numerous  in  the  lake, 
it  is  supposed  to  have  been  the  resort  of  the  fast-disappearing  castor 
fiber,  hence  the  name  of  the  lake. 


*In  this  connection,  it  may  be  interesting  for  some  to  learn  that  a  company  has  been  re- 
cently organized  for  the  straightening  of  the  Kankakee  river,  which  in  its  windings  is  three 
times  as  long  as  the  direct  line;  by  means  of  which,  and  the  removal  of  obstructions,  they 
hope  to  deepen  the  channel  and  form  a  drain  that  will  run  off  its  high  waters  and  that  of  its 
tributaries  more  rapidly  than  now,  and  into  which  cross  ditches  can  be  cut,  thereby  render- 
ing many  thousand  acres  so  much  drier  than  at  present,  as  to]  bring  land  up  from  three  and 
four  dollars  per  acre  to  thirty  and  forty. 


214  GEOLOGICAL    RECONNOISSANCE 


ALLEN  AND  WHITLEY  COUNTIES. 

Allen  county  is  included  among  those  characterized  chiefly  by  the 
Quaternary,  because  the  drift  exists  to  a  very  considerable  depth  over 
most  of  the  county,  forming  small  prairies,  with  occasional  timber. 
Deep  wells  have  been  sunk,  particularly  one  at  Fort  Wayne,  by  Mr. 
Barry,  General  Superintendent  for  the  Railroad  Company,  which  has 
passed  chiefly  through  blue  clay,  with  a  stratum  of  sand  at  eighteen 
feet  and  another  at  thirty  feet. 

There  are  also  numerous  quarries,  pockets  as  they  here  term  them, 
having  gravel  and  sand  in  a  bank  from  ten  to  fifteen  feet  deep,  out  of 
which  they  cart  large  quantities  of  ballast  for  the  railroad.  Near  the 
junction  of  the  St.  Mary  and  St.  Joseph  to  which  I  was  kindly  con- 
ducted by  Mr.  McCulloch,  stood  the  old  Fort  and  General  Tipton's 
house,  and  not  far  off  a  hill  of  pure  sand. 

The  heavy  Quaternary  deposits  seem  at  some  period  to  have  caused  a 
remarkable  change  in  the  water  courses  of  this  region.  St.  Joseph  of 
Maumee  flows  from  its  source  to  Fort  Wayne  in  a  south-west  direction; 
St.  Mary's  river  has  a  general  steady  north-west  course  to  this  city; 
but  here  meeting  apparently  a  natural  barrier,  instead  of  continuing  as 
the  upper  Wabash  does,  flowing  west  with  the  dip,  these  two  rivers 
unite,  and,  under  the  name  of  the  Maumee,  return  nearly  on  their  for- 
mer course,  almost  due  east. 

This  subject  will  be  more  fully  discussed  in  the  chapter  on  the  physi- 
cal geography  of  Indiana. 

Mr.  Jesse  L.  Williams,  formerly  Chief  Engineer  of  the  Wabash  and 
Erie  Canal,  now  residing  at  Fort  Wayne,  furnished  valuable  informa- 
tion regarding  the  levels  run  through  the  State,  and  Hon.  Allen  Ham- 
ilton, whose  generous  hospitality  we  experienced,  directed  our  attention 
to  a  deposit  of  shell  marl  under  the  prairie  swamp-muck  in  parts  of 
the  county,  also  to  some  sulphur  springs  six  miles  from  Fort  Wayne, 
and  gave  other  details  regarding  this  important  county. 

During  the  period  intervening  between  our  first  and  second  visit,  Mr. 
James  Humphreys,  of  Fort  Wayne,  had  politely  sent  a  copy  of  his  ar- 
ticle, contributed  to  one  of  their  newspapers,  giving  some  details  re- 
garding a  rock  quarry  recently  opened  about  nine  miles  south-east  of 
city.  We  accordingly  took  the  Pickway  road  in  order  to  examine  this 
quarry  formerly  owned  by  Mr.  Heer.  We  found  it  on  the  east  half  of 
the  north-east  quarter  of  section  35,  township  20,  range  13  east,  now 


OF   INDIANA.  215 


the  property  of  Mr.  James  A.  Key,  a  foot  or  two  below  the  suface  of  a 
field,  which  we  made  thirty  to  thirty-five  feet  higher  than  the  level  of  St. 
Mary's  river,  near  the  Adams  county  line,  and  nearly  a  hundred  feet 
ahove  the  Maumee  at  Fort  Wayne.  The  excavations  were  filled  to  some 
extent  with  water  and  it  was  difficult  to  be  certain  of  the  dip,  as  well 
as  to  obtain  any  decidedly  characteristic  fossils;  but,  as  nearly  as  could 
be  ascertained,  there  is  an  easterly  dip  of  several  degrees,  perhaps  ten  or 
twelve.  Lithologically  the  different  beds  afford  varied  characters :  some 
being  in  layers  three  to  six  inches  thick,  blue  and  bituminous,  with  ver- 
tical strise  similar  to  those  found  in  the  Upper  Silurian,  eighteen  to 
twenty  miles  south,  on  the  Wabash  river,  in  Wells  county;  other  beds 
grey,  crystalline  and  more  fossiliferous.  The  fossils  are  not  quite  satis- 
factory and  conclusive,  still  the  abundance  of  Atrypa  aspera,  a  consid- 
erable portion  of  a  fish,  which  strongly  resembles  the  tubercular  trian- 
gular body,  either  of  the  Pterichthis  or  Coccosteus,  probably  the  under 
side,  near  the  caudal  elongation,  of  Coccosteus  cuspidatus,  the  frequency 
of  a  gibbous  orthis,  found  also  in  Devonian  limestone,  at  Lower  Sandus- 
ky,  as  well  as  of  Cyathophyllum  helianthoides  and  a  Calymene/ound  at 
Jefiersonville,  would  seem  to  indicate  Devonian,  which  is  confirmed  by 
finding,  mingled  with  the  Drift,  quantities  of  detritus,  that  seems  de- 
rived from  the  disintegration  of  black  aluminous  shales,  such  as  those 
of  New  Albany,  Delphi  and  elsewhere.  On  the  other  hand  Terebratula 
reticularis  and  Bryozoa  assignable  to  either,  the  uncertainty  of  some  casts, 
the  close  resemblance  of  other  fossils  to  Upper  Silurian  types,  as  T. 
Wilsoni,  and  the  proximity  of  the  Upper  Silurian  all  along  the  upper 
Wabash  to  Huntington  and  even  lower,  would  throw  some  theoretical 
probability  on  these  being  the  higher  beds  of  Upper  Silurian  age. 

As,  however,  at  Huntington  there  is  an  axis  of  dislocation,  and  the 
dip  at  this  Allen  county  quarry  seems  east,  while  at  Wabash,  Peru  and 
Logansport  it  is  west,  and  as  the  Devonian  rocks  rising  from  under  the 
Michigan  coal  fields  are  supposed  to  reach  the  northern  counties  of  Indi- 
ana, leaving  perhaps  only  one  tier  of  counties  between  them  and  Allen, 
this  may  be,  as  at  New  Albany,  the  junction  of  the  Devonian  with  the 
underlying  Silurian  rocks,  and  the  Devonian  may  originally  have  extend- 
ed from  Lake  Erie  to  Lake  Michigan,  as  will  be  more  fully  discussed 
hereafter. 

The  question  regarding  the  probability  of  obtaining  water  by  Arte- 
sian borings  will  also  be  brought  up  under  that  general  head. 

In  traveling  from  Fort  Wayne  to  the  quarry  we  passed  heavier  tim- 
ber than  in  the  north  part  of  the  county,  where  swamp-muck  and  clay 


216  GEOLOGICAL   RECONNOLSSANCE 

prairies,  with  willow  growth,  &c.,  alternated  with  higher  oak  openings, 
composed  of  bowlders,  gravel  and  sand  ridges.  The  timber  is  mostly 
Beech,  Sugar-Tree,  Poplar  and  Black  Walnut.  In  passing  we  again 
saw  the  fine  nursery  and  farm  of  Mr.  Nelson,  formerly  visited,  part  of 
whose  orchard  wras  so  remarkably  improved  by  plaster.  The  analysis 
of  the  soil  and  remarks  on  this  subject  in  Dr.  Peter's  report  will  be 
found  highly  interesting  and  useful.  They  have  here  some  fine  fruit, 
although  occasionally  troubled  with  the  bark  louse  (Coccidse)  and  the 
Weevil,  (probably  Curculio  or  Khychoenus,  Nenuphar).  These  bottoms 
raise  also  good  crops  of  corn,  and  the  county  cultivates  wheat  success- 
fully, as  well  as  potatoes.  The  flying  weevil  (Anacampsis  cerealella) 
and  potato  rot  have  sometimes  shortened  the  crops.  As  we  went  south, 
Dogwood  (Cornus  Florida)  became  added  for  the  first  time,  in  the 
northern  counties,  to  the  above  enumerated  timber,  also  large  Oaks  and 
Hickories. 

In  the  north  portion  of  Whitley,  which  we  entered  near  Fairview, 
and  traversed  thence  towards  the  Pierson  railroad  station,  as  well  as 
near  Cherebusco,  we  have  a  height  of  land  or  water-shed,  some  springs 
flowing  through  Eel  river  and  Tippecarioe,  finally  to  the  Gulf  of  Mex- 
ico, other  streamlets  converging  to  form  the  Elkhart  and  discharging 
through  the  Big  St.  Joseph  into  Lake  Michigan,  ultimately  to  reach  the 
Atlantic  through  the  river  and  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence. 

This  part  of  the  county  has  numerous  small  lakes  and  prairies,  hav- 
ing abundant  bowlders,  cat-tail  flags  and  willows,  with  intervening  qua- 
ternary ridges  or  oak  openings,  chiefly  of  gravel  and  sand. 

On  nearing  Columbia  we  passed  some  fine  farms  and  an  extensive 
Tamerack  swamp,  probably  100  feet  lower  than  the  "divide;"  also  a 
large  fern  thicket  and  thick  undergrowth  of  Hazel  bushes. 

The  corn  crops  (Sept.  13)  were  very  promising,  and  the  clover  fields 
seemed  to  have  afforded  a  heavy  cut. 

Columbia,  the  county  seat,  is  a  thriving  place  with  nearly  a  thousand 
inhabitants,  situated  on  Blue  creek,  one  of  the  tributaries  of  Eel.  Bog- 
ore  is  dug  west  of  town.  The  wells  in  Columbia  average  from  fourteen 
to  twenty  feet  in  depth,  chiefly  through  clay.  Half  a  mile  north  of 
town  a  farmer  living  on  more  elevated  ground  has  soft  water,  the  oaly 
well  around  known  to  have  this  peculiarity,  although  his  digging  was 
also  through  clay.  Probably  this  elevated  quaternary  has  no  calcareous 
debris  near  to  affect  the  filtering  water. 

In  the  Drift  near  town  there  were  large  quantities  of  dark  alumin- 
ous shales,  angular  as  if  not  transported  far,  but  very  friable  when  ban- 


OF  INDIANA.  217 


died;  some  black  sand,  similar  to  that  of  Lakes  Superior  and  Michi- 
gan, showed  itself  in  the  ravines,  yet  a  preponderance  of  clay  in  the 
soil  was  evinced  by  its  cracking  when  dry. 

As  we  progress  south  the  prairies  are  smaller  and  the  timber  more 
abundant,  as  well  as  larger,  Oak,  Hickory,  Elm  and  Sassafras,  with 
Hazel  undergrowth ;  ferns  less  abundant,  but  bowlders  yet  large  sized 
and  numerous. 

The  land  is  sufficiently  undulating,  generally,  not  to  be  too  wet  for  cul- 
tivation, and  besides  the  above  crops,  we  observed  good  sorghum  and 
buckwheat;  the  corn  is  usually  cut  and  shocked,  which  is  generally 
considered  the  most  thrfty  mode  of  harvesting  it.  Hoop-poles,  staves 
and  lumber  seemed  abundant,  and  a  shingling  machine  was  observed  in 
operation  near  the  line  of  Whitley  and  Allen,  about  Huntsville. 

FULTON  AND  PULASKI  COUNTIES. 

Of  Fulton  county  we  did  not  see  as  much  as  we  desired,  having  been 
informed,  correctly  or  incorrectly,  that  the  Iron  Works  at  Chippewa, 
near  Rochester,  were  not  in  operation  when  we  were  in  the  neighbor- 
hood. No  doubt  the  general  remarks  made  in  connection  with  the  fur- 
nace at  Mishawaka  would  apply  here,  both  as  to  the  quality  of  the  bog- 
ore  and  the  facility  with  which  it  is  worked;  only  requiring  transpor- 
tation facilities,  cheap  fuel,  marl  or  limestone  in  some  quantity,  and  a 
fair  average  price  for  pig  iron  to  make  the  work  profitable. 

Both  Fulton  andPulaski  have  extensive  prairies,  with  oak  openings, 
and  portions  were  heavily  timbered ;  they  are  well  watered,  as  well  as 
drained  to  some  extent,  by  the  Tippecanoe  river  winding  through  their 
interior.  Gravel  and  bowlders  are  not  so  common  here  as  in  counties 
further  east,  clay  and  swamp-muck  constituting  the  prairies  and  swales, 
sand  the  oak  openings.  These  are  fenced  with  small  oak  timber,  with- 
out splitting,  simply  "  spotting  "  the  round  rails  in  places  to  prevent 
their  rolling. 

On  approaching  Fran cisville,  the  prairie  widens  with  some  island-like 
patches  of  timber,  chiefly  oak.  Limestone  can  be  struck  here  any 
where,  and  even  as  far  north  as  Medaryville,  at  from  two  and  a  half  to 
eleven  feet  below  the  surface,  reaching  indefinitely  downwards.  A 
well  which  we  examined  was  made  by  blasting  through  seven  to  eight 
feet  of  rock,  the  layers  being  from  four  to  six  inches  thick. 

The  rock,  from  the  few  samples  we  saw  with  fragments  of  fossils 
appeared  to  be  of  the  same  character  as  that  found,  a  short  distance 


218  GEOLOGICAL  RECONNOISSANCE 

south-west,  in  the  bed  of  the  Little  Menon,  hereafter  described,  in 
White  county,  and,  if  so,  of  Upper  Silurian  age.  This  may  seem 
somewhat  singular,  considering  the  fall  from  the  head-waters  of  the 
Big  Metamonong  to  the  region  of  ths  Wabash  at  Americus  or  at 
Delphi,  where  the  Devonian  black  slate  overlies  the  Upper' Silurian 
pentamerus  limestone,  did  we  not  reflect  that  these  Upper  Silurian 
rocks  extend  up  the  Wabash,  (which  river  crosses  the  strike,  with  a 
bearing  not  very  dissimilar,  from  the  direction  of  the  Tippecanoe  river,) 
as  far  as  Logansport  and  even  ITuntington;  the  dip  corresponding  in 
direction  with  the  descent  of  the  river,  although  greater  in  degree. 

Many  good  farms  were  seem  in  these  counties;  corn,  wheat  and  po- 
tatoes being  staple  products. 

WHITE  AND  BENTON  COUNTIES. 

Conducted  by  Mr.  Watson,  we  examined  the  rock  near  the  railroad 
station  at  New  Bedford,  in  the  bed  of  the  Little  Menon,  from  which  it 
is  extensively  quarried  for  lime,  although  in  places  rather  silicious. 
They  also  burn  lime  at  West  Bradford,  and  even  four  or  five  miles 
higher  up  the  Big  Metamonong. 

There  seems  at  New  Bradford  a  dip  (probably  only  locally  so  much 
inclined,)  of  from  4°  to  10°  in  a  westerly  direction,  sometimes  a  little 
north,  sometimes  south  of  west.  The  rock  is  a  yellowish  silico-calea- 
reous  stone,  and  from  the  fossils  found,  few  of  which  wrere  quite  perfect 
or  satifactory,  it  seems  an  upper  bed  of  Upper  Silurian  age,  much  like 
the  coralline  limestone  of  Schoharie,  New  York,  wThich  Prof.  Hall  con- 
siders part  of  the  Niagaria  Group.  Stromatapora  concentrica  was  the 
most  satisfactory,  while  immense  quantities  of  crinoidal  stems,  frag- 
ments of  Bucania  or  Bellerophon,  of  a  coral  closely  allied  to  Favosites 
Niagarensis  and  of  Orthoceratites  seem  to  confirm  the  testimony. 

A  few  miles  west  of  this  place  sandstone  is  quarried  which  probably 
corresponds  to  the  silicious  bed  seen  below  Logansport,  on  the  Missis- 
sinews,  above  Peru,  and  at  Mr.  Irish's  quarry,  Pendleton,  about  the 
junction  of  the  Devonian  with  the  overlying  sub- carboniferous  sand- 
stone. This  stratigraphical  level,  at  New  Bedford,  is  probably  seventy- 
five  or  eighty  feet  above  the  waters  of  Tippecanoe  river,  near  Mon- 
ticello,  where  a  fine  railroad  bridge  crosses  that  stream  sixty  feet  above 
its  bed. 

Large  portions  of  the  county  are  a  fine,  farming,  prairie  region,  with  a 
considerable  amount  of  Aspen.  Near  Norway,  bowlders  are  abundant, 


OF  INDIANA.  219 


not  so  much  rounded  by  attrition  as  in  other  localities,  soil  sandy;  and 
the  growth,  in  the  extensive  prairies,  of  ferns,  chiefly  polypods,  boneset, 
wild  indigo,  mimosa  bushes,  ascelepias,  smart- weed,  (Polygon um  hydro- 
piper,)  May-weed,  willows,  &c.  Sand  ridges  somewhat  higher,  give 
growth  to  Oak,  Sumach,  Sassafras  and  Hazel  bushes. 

Continuing  west,  through  the  Grand  Prairie,  which  we  had  entered 
in  White  county,  we  gradually  rose,  keeping  Mt.  Gilbo  in  view,  until 
we  ascended  the  great  Quaternary  ridge  or  gravel  bank,  which  in  this, 
its  eastern  culmination,  is  from  eighty  to  a  hundred  feet  above  the 
general  level  of  the  country.  The  ridge  extends  westward,  sometimes 
as  a  sand  bar,  sometimes  as  a  gravel  bar,  or  apparent  ancient  bank  of  a 
lake,  at  a  somewhat  lower  elevation,  until,  at  eight  or  nine  miles  dis- 
tant, it  comes  up  by  its  western  and  more  arenaceous  culmination,  Mt. 
Nebo,  nearly  to  the  same  level  as  at  its  eastern  summit,  Mt.  Gilbo. 

From  this  ridge  of  coarse  gravel,  finely  exposed  by  an  excavation, 
Carpenter's  creek  flows  north,  as  before  indicated,  cutting  through  the 
sub-carboniferous  sandstone  and  underlying  the  Devonian  black  shales; 
and  the  head- waters  of  Big  Pine  flow  south,  cutting  through  the  sub- 
carboniferous  limestone,  and  the  Millstone  Grit  or  Carboniferous  Con- 
glomerate. 

Mt.  Gilbo  ridge  is  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  wide  and  extends  at 
its  high  level  about  half  a  mile;  the  land,  including  the  Mount,  is  own- 
ed by  Mr.  Simon  Brown,  of  Fountain  county.  Mt.  Nebo  is  the  prop- 
erty of  Mr.  John  W.  Swan,  in  section  20,  township  26  north,  range  7 
west.  Two  miles  and  three- quarters  south-east  of  Mt.  Nebo,  a  lime- 
stone quarry  is  owned  by  Mr.  J.  W.  Nutt,  from  which  slabs  are  obtain- 
ed eighteen  to  twenty  inches  thick,  in  beds  with  a  considerable  dip 
north  of  west.  Another  is  on  the  property  of  Mr.  Evan  Stevenson,  on 
Big  Pine,  eight  miles  north-east  of  Oxford;  and  a  third,  somewhat  fur- 
ther south,  on  the  farm  of  Messrs.  Sample  and  Seabury.  The  quarried 
specimens  of  stone,  which  \$e  saw,  indicated  the  same  yellowish,  silico- 
calcareous  rock  of  Upper  Silurian  age  seen  on  the  Little  Menon  ;  and 
these  beds  are  probably  reached  where  the  Devonian  black  shales  have 
been  swept  off  by  denudation. 

Mr.  Posey,  of  Warren  county,  a  relative  of  General  Posey,  whose 
name  was  selected  for  our  extreme  south-west  Ohio-Wabash  county, 
called  our  attention  to  a  belt  of  bowlders,  about  two  miles  wide,  ex- 
tending from  Illinois,  south  of  the  Nebo-Gilbo  ridge,  past  Parish's  Grove, 
a  mile  and  a  half  north  of  Wagner's  Grove,  in  a  south-east  direction,  to- 
wards central  Indiana,  in  the  region  of  Indianapolis,  perhaps  a  mile 
14 


^  • 
220  GEOLOGICAL  RECONNOISSANCE 

north  of  that  city.     This  is  not  very  different  from  the  slightly  curved 
strike-line  of  the  Black  Slate. 

From  an  average  of  the  observations  made  in  ascending  from  the 
Wabash,  at  LaFayette,  to  the  Grand  Prairie  and  returning  by  way  of 
the  Battle  Ground,  again  to  the  Wabash,  our  barometer  makes  the 
swales  and  low  places  in  the  prairie,  where  we  sometimes  saw  black 
shales,  about  285  feet  higher  than  the  level  of  low  water  in  the  Wabash, 
underneath  the  LaFayette  bridge ;  which  places  are  often  characterized 
by  small  ponds  with  water  lilies  and  other  aquatic  plants,  and  along 
side  of  these  a  growth  of  smart-weed,  (Polygonum  hydropiper,)  flags, 
boneset,  galingale,  (Cyperus  strigosus,)  as  well  as  willows  and  aspens, 
when  not  kept  down  by  fire.  On  somewhat  higher  portions  we  saw 
extensive  plains  with  ferns,  wild  indigo,  mimosa,  and  a  vast  represen- 
tation of  helianthoid  composite,  and  other  flowers  with  every  variety  of 
hue. 

The  more  rolling  and  drier  prairie,  twenty  to  forty  feet  above  the 
swales,  is  usually  characterized  by  the  compass-plant,  flutter  dock,  and 
a  plant  denominated  by  the  residents  Quinine-weed.  Mounts  Gilbo  and 
Nebo  being  about  eighty  feet  higher  than  these  rolling  prairies,  must 
be  at  least  about  390  or  400  feet  above  the  Wabash,  at  LaFayette,  or 
about  880  feet  above  the  level  of  the  ocean,  viz. :  the  LaFayette  Court 
House  being,  according  to  Messrs.  Stansbury  and  Williams,  538  feet  above 
the  sea,  we  must  deduct  from  this  48  or  50  feet,  which  the  Court  House 
stands  above  the  Wabash,  leaving  490  feet,*  and  to  this  elevation  add 
the  390  feet,  or  thereby  which  the  culminating  point  of  the  Gilbo-Nebo 
ridge  attains  over  the  Wabash,  and  we  have  the  total  as  above,  880  feet 
above  the  sea. 

The  swales  and  ridges  in  this  county  generally  run  in  an  easterly  and 
westerly  curve,  the  latter  sometimes  having  a  growth  of  scrubby  Oaks, 
Hickories,  Sassafras,  and  an  undergrowth  of  Hazel. 

A  well,  dug  on  this  prairie,  at  least  150  feet  below  Mt.  Gilbo,  is  thirty- 
one  feet  deep,  and  water  usually  stands  in  it  to  the  height  of  eleven 
feet.  The  owner  said  he  dug  through  two  or  three  feet  of  dark  soil, 
about  four  of  yellow  subsoil,  then  hard  pan,  gravel  and  bluish  clay 
through  the  rest  of  the  distance,  to  a  thin  bed  of  quicksand. 

We  saw  some  tine  flocks  of  sheep  and  good  osage  hedges ;  but  very 
generally  here  the  fine  large  corn  fields  are  entirely  without  fences,  as 


*This  agrees  very  nearly  with  the  altitude  given  by  Lieut.  Ellett  for  low  water  in  the 
Wabash,  at  LaFayette,  which  he  states  to  be  492  feet  above  high  tide. 


OF  INDIANA.  221 


hogs  are  not  permitted  to  run  at  large  and  the  numerous  herds  of  cattle, 
constituting  the  staple  profit,  are  kept  from  straying  and  from  tres- 
passing by  the  skill  of  a  single  herdsman. 

Flights  of  cranes  were  seen  and  we  frequently  shot,  for  camp  use, 
the  pinnated  grous,  (Tetrao  cupido,)  or,  in  the  groves,  the  wild  pigeon, 
(Ectopistes  migratoria,)  besides  startling  the  meadow  lark  (Sturnella 
ludoviciaua)  and  a  few  smaller  birds,  from  their  prairie  nests. 

For  the  Geologist  and  Physical  Geographer,  the  Botanist  and  Zoolo- 
gist, as  well  as  the  lover  of  scenery  such  as  the  boundless  vision  of  the 
day  and  the  gorgeous  sunset  of  the  evening  often  afford,  this  ocean- 
like  prairie  region,  and  these  island-like  groves  are  replete  with  interest 
and  instruction. 


CHAPTER   III. 


PHYSICAL  GEOGRAPHY  OF  INDIANA. 

SECTION  1. — OROGRAPHY,  STATISTICS  OF  ALTITUDES,  EXAMINATION  OF 
WATER-SHEDS,  &c. — A  synoptical  table  of  hypsometrical  statistics  in  our 
State  is  subjoined  in  the  appendix,  as  it  was  thought  that  it  might  be 
interesting  to  some  to  have  these  various  heights  in  Indiana  in  a  con- 
densed form;  as  well  those  alluded  to  in  the  report,  usually  obtained 
by  barometrical  observation,  as  also  others  chiefly  derived  from  the  sur- 
veys of  Col.  Stansbury,  (U.  S.  Topographical  Engineer,)  and  Mr.  Jesse 
L.  Williams,  (Chief  State  Engineer  of  the  Wabash  and  Erie  Canal,) 
and  from  the  writings  of  Mr.  Charles  Ellet  on  the  Mississippi  basin, 
published  by  the  Smithsonian  Institution ;  likewise  that  of  Mr.  Blod- 
get,  author  of  a  valuable  work  on  Climatologv.  and  a  few  similar  sources. 
For  convenience  of  reference  they  are  arran^d  alphabetically,  accord- 
ing to  counties,  giving  also  the  exact  place. 

The  addition  of  the  altitudes,  found  by  Messrs.  Stansbury  and  Wil- 
liams, while  surveying  in  Indiana,  as  obtained  by  them  at  two  hundred 
and  eight  stations,  and  reported  to  our  Legislature  in  1836,  gives  a 
total,  which  divided  by  the  number  of  stations,  averages  a  fraction  over 
678  feet  for  the  mean  elevation  of  the  land  in  Indiana  over  high  tide 
in  the  ocean.  A  nearly  similar  result  is  obtained  by  taking  the  average 
between  the  maximum  and  minimum  heights  observed  in  Indiana. 
Thus  on  adding  the  greatest  elevation  run  in  onr  State  by  the  levels  of 
Messrs.  Stansbury  and  Williams,  the  summit  between  Sand  and  Salt 
creeks,  1,057  feet  above  the  ocean,  to  the  lowest  portion  of  Indiana,  207 
feet  high,  viz:  the  mouth  of  the  Wabash,  as  estimated  by  Mr.  Ellet 
above  high  tide,  and  dividing  the  result  by  two,  we  have  an  average  of 
677  feet,  only  one  foot  less  than  the  average  obtained  by  the  other  cal- 
culation. 

According  to  Mr.  Chas.  Ellet,  in  his  valuable  remarks  on  the  Missis- 


224  GEOLOGICAL   RECONNOISSANCE 

sippi  Valley  and  the  improvement  of  navigation  in  the  Ohio  river,  the 
altitude  of  Lake  Michigan  is  610  feet.  By  the  observations  made  at 
Chicago,  as  a  military  post,  Mr.  Blodget  gives  that  city  at  591  feet,  and 
Milwaukee,  on  the  MSS.  authority  of  Messrs.  Marsh  and  Lapham,  at 
600  feet  above  the  ocean.  We  cannot  therefore  be  far  wrong  in  assum- 
ing 600  feet  as  about  the  average  of  the  observations,  remembering 
however,  as  shown  in  the  interesting  contributions  of  Col.  Whittlesey 
to  the  {Smithsonian  Institution,  that  the  level  of  the  water  fluctuates 
many  times  every  day  a  few  inches,  corresponding  apparently  with  a 
diurnal  rise  and  fall  in  the  barometer ;  and  that,  periodically,  usually 
in  several  years,  perhaps  dependent  upon  a  succession  of  dry  summers, 
there  is  an  ebb,  and  after  several  wet  years  a  flow,  amounting  to  several 
feet. 

Thus  then,  the  average  of  the  land  being  678  and  of  the  lake  600 
.  .feet,  if  the  general  level  of  our  State  were  depressed  about  80  or  100 
feet,  a  portion  of  the  waters  of  Lake  Michigan  might  readily  flow  al- 
most directly  south  into  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  through  the  valley  of  the 
Mississippi ;  or  a  similar  result  could  be  obtained  by  excavating  a  canal 
through  Lake  county,  perhaps  twenty  miles  in  length,  and  not  even  at 
the  deepest  cut  100  feet  below  the  general  level  of  the  county,  by  which 
the  waters  of  the  lake  could  be  made  to  flow  into  the  Kankakee,  (which 
however,  at  the  mouth  of  West  Creek,  is  probably  but  a  few  feet  lower 
than  the  lake,)  and  then^  through  the  Illinois  river  into  the  Missis- 
sippi. 

It  seems  probable,  as  we  shall  see  hereafter  in  treating  of  the  physi- 
cal geography  of  this  basin,  that  at  some  former  period  the  waters  of 
the  lakes  may  have  so  discharged  themselves;  but  as  the  present  ob- 
servations are  designed  first  to  bear  upon  the  dividing  ridges  or  heights 
of  land  in  Indiana,  we  now  proceed  to  discuss  those  points. 

As  there  exist  in  Indiana  many  dividing  ridges,  or  water-sheds,  or 
divortia  aquarum,  a  term  used  by  Humboldt  and  others,  we  must  be 
careful  to  avoid  the  error  into  which  I  found  a  citizen  of  one  of  our 
northern  counties  had  fallen,  who  contended  he  occupied  the  highest 
portion  of  Indiana,  indeed,  he  added,  he  might  say  of  North  America, 
because,  from  his  farm,  water  flowed  south  ultimately  into  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico,  as  well  as  north-east  into  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence. 

We  must  bear  in  mind  that  the  great  valley  of  the  Mississippi  is  a 
central  basin  rising  towards  Lake  Itasca,  the  source  of  the  mighty 
river  which  drains  this  valley,  acccording  to  some  authors,  from  an  ele- 
vation of  about  1,300  feet  above  its  lower  termination  at  the  Gulf  of 


OF  INDIANA.  225 


Mexico.  On  this  height  of  land,  after  great  rains,  canoes  can  be  pad- 
dled, from  south-flowing  streams,  into  waters  that  discharge  into  Hud- 
son's Bay;  and,  not  very  far  from  the  source  of  the  Mississippi,  head 
waters  reach  rivers  emptying  into  the  Arctic  Ocean,  wherever  the 
drainage  to  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence  is,  from  near  the  same  region,  an 
eastern  side  slope  from  the  head  or  higher  plateau  of  this  great  valley; 
the  diverging  waters  being  separated  often  only  by  insignificant  ridges 
or  even  swamps,  in  Wisconsin,  Illinois  and  Indiana. 

From  the  west  or  right  bank  of  the  Mississippi  we  have  a  gradual 
rise,  estimated  at  about  six  feet  to  the  mile,  until  within  two  to  four 
hundred  miles  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  so  that  the  emigrant,  when  he 
leaves  the  great  carboniferous  basin  and  reaches,  among  the  adjacent 
Permian,  Cretaceous  and  Tertiary  strata,  the  higher  lands  extending 
from  Council  Bluffs  nearly  due  south,  is  at  Fort  Riley,  Kansas,  or  at 
Fort  Arbuckle,  Indian  Territory,  already  from  1,000  to  1,200  feet  above 
the  ocean;  reaching  Fort  Kearney,  Nebraska,  or,  by  a  more  southern 
route, Fort  Belknap,  Texas,  he  is  at  an  altitude  of  from  1600  to  2,300  feet; 
and  at  Fort  Laramie  over  4,500  feet.  If  he  pursues  his  journey  by  the 
banks  of  Sweet  water  and  crosses  the  South  Pass,  three  hundred  and 
twenty  miles  west  of  Fort  Laramie,  he  is  about  7,000  feet  above  the 
sea,  and  is  in  sight  of  culminating  points  over  13,000  feet  high,  which 
further  north,  in  the  Cascade  Range  that  connects  the  Sierra  Nevada 
with  the  Rocky  Mountains,  attain  an  elevation  of  16,000  feet  or  more. 
From  this  Pass,  reached  by  a  gradual  ascent,  an  almost  equally  impercep- 
tible descent  brings  him  off  these  heights  to  a  table  land,  with  saline 
lakes,  &c.,  still  on  a  general  level  of  more  than  4,000  feet  high,  whence 
some  waters  flow  west  to  the  Pacific.* 

A  similar  gradual  rise  may  be  traced  from  the  east  or  left  bank  of 
the  Mississippi,  towards  the  Allegheny  range,  although  not  to  an  ele- 
vation equaling  the  western  culmination.  If  we  examine  the  hypso- 
metrical  details  of  that  region  determined  by  the  talent  and  energy  of 
a  Guyot,  or  consult  some  of  the  transvere  sections  given  in  the  admi- 
rable work  of  the  great  climatologist,  Blodget,  we  find  in  those  corres- 
ponding somewhat  to  the  latitude  of  Indiana,  the  following  ascent : 

*Fort  Hall  is  4,500  feet  above  the  sea  j  Great  Salt  Lake,  Capt.  Stansbury  places  at  4,351 
feet. 


226  GEOLOGICAL  RECONNOISSANCE 


FEET  ABOVE  SEA. 


Mississippi  river,  at  St.  Louis,  (low  water) 381 

Lake  Erie 565 

Pittsburg 700 

Plain  near  Pittsburg 1,100 

Blue  Ridge  of  Pennsylvania,  general  average 1,100 

Alleghenies  at  latitude  37J° 2,650 

Mt.  Marcy,  highest  point  in  the  State  of  New  York 5,344 

High  Pinnacle  of  Blue  Ridge , 5,701 

White  Mountains,  average  of  the  eight  highest  peaks 5,836 

Mt.  Washington,  (culminating  point  of  northern  section) 6,288 

Black  Dome  of  the  Black  Mountain,  main  chain 6,707 

From  a  region,  which  is  almost  the  geographic  center  of  this  conti- 
nent, (equidistant  from  the  Pacific  near  Vancouver's  Island,  the  Atlan- 
tic at  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  near  the  mouth 
of  the  Mississippi,  and  the  Arctic  Ocean,  at  Dolphin  and  Union  Straits, 
or  at  Simpson's  Straits,)  the  summit  of  a  marshy  plateau,  as  Sir  J. 
Richardson,  in  his  Arctic  Expedition,  styles  the  dividing  ridge  of  Arc- 
tic and  Atlantic  waters,  in  about  latitude  48°  north,  and  latitude  17°  to 
18°  west  of  Washington,  all  the  drainage  received  from  the  great  east- 
ern slopes  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  or  the  western  slopes  of  the  Appa- 
lachian range,  is  carried  from  an  elevation  scarcely  exceeding  800  feet,* 
northward  to  the  Arctic  Ocean,  through  a  dreary  and  scarcely  habitable 
expanse  of  lakes  and  marshes;  southward  and  eastward,  through  val- 
leys as  fertile  as  any  in  the  world,  .embracing,  with  the  St.  Lawrence 
Basin  and  Texas  Slope  included,  an  area  of  considerably  over  a  million 
and  a  half  of  square  miles. 

Collecting  in  its  onward  course  at  least  one  Giant  Tributary  that  had 
meandered  several  thousand  miles  before  its  confluence  with  the  mighty 
Father  of  Waters,  (this  Michi-Sibi  or  Great  River  of  theOgibawa  or  Chip- 
pawa  Indians,)  besides  many  other  affluents  that  in  their  thousand  miles 
might  themselves  drain  a  moderate-sized  continent,  this  deep  and  quiet 
stream  bears  on  its  bosom  the  countless  steamers  and  flat-boats,  which  are 
the  medium  of  ultimately  diffusing  to  all  parts  of  the  globe  the  agricul- 
tural wealth  of  our  rich  valleys;  the  former  bringing  in  their  return  trips 
the  comforts  and  luxuries  sent  by  the  mechanical  skill  of  regions  less 
extensively  adapted  to  an  agriculture,  which  from  the  extent  of  Ter- 


*See  Blodget's  Chimalogy  of  the  United  States,  page  102. 


OF  INDIANA.  227 


ritory  and  consequent  variety  of  cliraate  can  excel  equally  in  the  hardy 
tubers,  graminse  and  fruits  of  northern  growth,  in  the  valuable  cereals 
and  fruits,  flocks  and  herds  of  a  temperate  latitude,  and  the  luxurious 
products  of  an  almost  tropical  vegetation,  such  as  sugar,  rice,  figs, 
oranges,  bananas,  &c.,  as  well  as  the  commercial  staple,  cotton. 

Of  the  Mississippi  Valley,  Indiana  forms  no  unimportant  part,  being 
situated  centrally  as  regards  latitude,*  and  occupying  the  productive 
region  which,  in  conjunction  with  Illinois,  forms  the  last  terrace  of  the 
Atlantic  Slope  in  its  western  convergence  to  the  east  bank  of  the  Missis- 
sippi. As  we  have  already  seen,  no  high  mountains  exist  in  our  State ; 
the  greatest  hyper-oceanic  elevation  in  Indiana,  of  between  1,000  and 
1,100  feet,  is  attained  about  midway  on  the  eastern  border  of  Indi- 
ana among  the  rocks  geologically  the  lowest.  The  height  gradu- 
ally diminishes  going  south-west  to  the  coal  basin  on  our  western  bor- 
ders; the  uplands  of  which  average  from  400  to  600  feet  above  the  sea, 
and  north  of  the  Wabash  the  country  is  much  more  level,  at  a  medium 
average  of  about  700  feet  above  high  tide  in  the  ocean. 

The  great  backbone  or  Kocky  Mountain  Range  runs  through  our 
continent  somewhat  east  of  south  and  west  of  north,  preserving  nearly 
the  same  trend  in  the  Andes  of  South  America,  while  the  Allegheny 
Eange  constitutes,  like  the  mountains  of  Brazil,  a  subordinate  elevation 
forming  in  its  linear  extension  an  angle  of  about  60°  with  the  back- 
bone; so  that  a  distance,  equal  to  45°,  estimated  on  the  equator,  set  off 
from  the  northern  head  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  near  the  mouth  of 
McKenzie  river,  to  the  coast  of  New  Foundland,  and  thence  again  along 
the  Alleghany  strike  to  the  southern  base  cf  the  Rocky  Mountains 
among  the  table  lands  of  Chihuahua,  and  once  more  back  to  the  place 
of  beginning,  froms  an  equilateral  triangle.  A  rather  abrupt  descent, 
sloping  west  from  the  Rocky  Mountains,  forms  the  Pacific  coast,  some- 
what parallel  to  the  backbone,  and  a  rapid  south-east  slant,  carries  the 
Allegheny  Atlantic  slopes  to  that  ocean,  in  a  coast  line  nearly  parallel 
to  the  elevation.  The  descent  to  the  interior  central  depression  is  much 
more  gradual,  but  these  exhibit  also  some  parallelism  to  the  ranges  of 
elevation.  Thus  a  line,  connecting  Great  Bear  Lake,  Great  Slave  Lake, 
Ithabasca  and  Winnepeg  lakes  with  the  general  direction  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi, would  run  nearly  in  the  strike  of  the  Rocky  Mountains. 
Lakes  Erie  and  Ontario,  the  river  and  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  all  have 
a  trend  somewhat  parallel  to  the  Apalachian  chain,  while  Lakes  Supe- 

*Froru  the  Ohio  in  about  37£°  north  latitude,  to  Lake  Michigan  at  nearly  42°. 


228  GEOLOGICAL  RECONNOISSANCE 

rior  and  Michigan  form  a  more  central  north  and  south  drainage  for 
part  of  the  Mississippi  Valley. 

SEC.  2. — PHYSICAL  GEOGRAPHY  OF  INDIANA  AS  PART  OP  THE  HYDRO- 
GRAPHIC  BASIN  OF  THE  MISSISSIPPI  VALLEY,  INCLUDING  HER  PRAIRIES, 
SAND  PLAINS,  LAKES,  &c. — From  the  preceding  section  it  seems  proba- 
ble that  the  physical  character  of  the  Mississippi  Valley  is  due  partly 
to  the  transported  and  deposited  materials  in  the  gradually  subsiding 
waters  which  existed  in  by-gone  ages  between  the  Rocky  Mountains 
and  Allegheny  Range,  sometimes  as  a  salt-water  ocean  receding  and 
again  ebbing  and  overflowing,  afterwards  probably  as  a  great  fresh- 
water expanse  or  lacustrine  basin,  and  finally  as  a  main  stream,  with 
tributaries  of  running  water  gradually  narrowing  and  deepening  its 
channel,  leaving  first  great  sand-plains,  the  shores  and  sand-bars  of  the 
ocean,  on  the  present  elevated  plateaus;  then  prairies  rolling  and 
gravelly,  or  arenaceous;  then  lower  swamp-muck  prairies,  savannas 
and  the  like ;  finally  successive  river  terraces  forming  often  second  and 
third  river-bottoms,  with  marl  and  fluviatile  shells,  the  latter  of  species 
almost  invariably  identical  with  recent. 

If  we  cast  our  eyes  on  a  good  map  exhibiting  the  physical  geography 
of  the  globe  we  are  struck  by  the  fact  that  nearly  all  great  valleys  con- 
stitute in  their  lowest  portions  prairies,  heaths,  steppes,  selvas,  llanos, 
savannas,  pampas,  everglades,  &c.,  with  their  peculiar  flora  and  fauna, 
modified  chiefly  by  latitude,  while  more  elevated  parts  of  the  same  val- 
leys constitute  sandy  plains,  or  rise,  most  generally  in  the  south,  to 
plateaus  often  arid,  sometimes  with  saline  lakes  in  their  interior;  and 
not  unfrequently  the  surmounting  of  a  subordinate  ridge  leads  us  by 
this  table  land  to  the  main  range.  These  seas  or  salt  lakes  are  found 
usually  diminishing  in  their  hydrographical  extent.* 

Thus  the  great  marshy  and  mossy  tundra  of  Siberia  becomes  gradu- 


*Lake  Titicaca  is  rather  more  than  half  the  size  of  Lake  Erie,  comprising  an  area  of 
4,000  square  miles.  Lieut.  Gibbon  reports  that  it  is  gradually  filling  up,  "  that  the  water  is 
getting  shallower  every  year."  "  Finally,"  he  says,  "  there  will  be  a  single  stream  flowing 
through  what  in  future  ages  may  be  called  Titicaca  valley."  This  region  includes  the  plain 
of  Cuzco,  which  is  in  itself  three  times  the  extent  of  Switzerland.  "  Warren's  Phy.  Geo.,  p. 
17.  Regarding  the  Great  Salt  Lake,  Capt.  Stansbury  remarks  in  his  account  of  the  expedi- 
tion to  Utah,  p.  105  :  "  Upon  the  slope  of  a  ridge  connected  with  this  plain  thirteen  distinct 
successive  benches  or  water-marks  were  counted,  which  had  evidently  at  one  time  been 
washed  by  the  lake,  and  must  have  been  the  result  of  its  action  continued  for  some  time  at 
each  level.  The  highest  of  these  is  now  about  two  hundred  feet  above  the  valley. 


OF    INDIANA.  229 


ally  higher  and  drier  in  the  Kirghis  Steppes*  of  Central  Asia,  and  is 
bounded  on  the  south  by  arid  table  lands,  as  those  of  Gobi  and  Iran, 
which  lead  to  the  subordinate  ridges  and  ultimately  to  the  highest 
mountain  range,  with  the  not  far-distant  sea  of  Aral  every  year  gradu- 
ally diminishing  in  extent.  Central  Europe  has  its  northern  marshes, 
its  extensive  heaths,  and  its  more  elevated  southern  lands  and  adjoining 
Asiatic  Caspian  Sea,  of  salt  water  and  depressed  basin,  eighty-three 
feet  below  the  ocean.  Africa  and  Australia,  as  far  as  known,  do  not 
deviate  materially  from  this  type. 

In  South  America  we  have  the  Llanos  of  Carraccas,  extending  to  the 
Orinoco,  and  occupying  over  16,000  square  miles.  Interrupted  only  by 
the  forests  of  the  Amazon,  this  valley  extends  through  the  grassy 
plains  of  the  Apure,  and  pampas  of  the  LaPlata  rivers,  to  the  Straits 
of  Magellan.  South-west  of  the  Llanos,  the  table  lauds  and  Despoblado 
desert,  one- third  the  size  of  the  African  Sahara,  and  Lake  Titicaca 
rapidly  filling  up,  all  conform  to  the  general  rule,  while  south  of  the 
pampas  the  Desert  of  Patagonia  exhibits  the  same  principle  in  physi- 
cal geography. 

In  North  America,  the  Mississippi  Valley  has  centrally  low  prairies 
of  coarse  grasses,  cat-flags,  &c.,  and  rises  to  higher  rolling  prairies,  (lux- 
uriating in  a  composite  vegetation,  chiefly  of  the  helianthus  genus,) 
similar  to  the  grassy  Steppes  of  Europe  and  Asia;  finally  on  the  south- 
west forming  an  Artemesia  table-land,  part  of  which  is  an  arid  desert, 
with  the  Great  Salt  Lake,  and  others,  leading  to  a  culminating  ridge. 

An  examination  and  comparison  of  these  and  many  similar  facts  would 
seem  to  point  to  the  conclusion  that  the  vast  bodies  of  waters  whu-h 
originally  filled  these  valleys  had  gradually  altered  their  level,  at  long 
intervals,  either  through  a  gentle  elevation  of  the  land,  probably  from 
volcanic  action,  or  sometimes  through  the  denuding  effect  of  the  run- 
ning water  cutting  deeper  channels.f 

To  account  for  the  various  phenomena  geognostic  and  geographic 
which  have  given  to  Indiana  its  peculiar  orographic  and  potamographic 


*These  are  characterized  by  the  immortal  Humboldt  ns  grassy  plains,  having  a  growth  of 
Rosacea,  Fritillarias,  Cipripedias  and  of  high  herbaceous  plants,  such  as  Astragalus,  Saus- 
surias  and  Papilionacese.  The  salt  and  soda  deserts  are  those  of  Kerman,  Seistan,  Beloochis- 
tan,  Mekran  and  Moulton. 

tThese  effects  I  have  noticed  at  several  places  in  our  county  and  elsewhere  as  amounting, 
in  twenty -five  years,  to  nearly  that  number  of  feet,  or  an  average  excavating  power  of  rivulets, 
in  our  sandy  loam,  of  one  foot  per  annum ;  after  reaching  a  stiff  argillaceous  soil,  the  rate 
was  diminished  at  least  a  half. 


230  GEOLOGICAL   RECONNOISSANCE 

configuration,  or  in  other  words  its  elevations,  depressions  and  river 
drainage,  we  are  almost  forced  to  conclude  that  during  the  coal  period 
proper,  excluding  the  sub-carboniferous,  as  that  is  chiefly  marine,  the 
western  part  of  our  State,  and  nearly  the  whole  of  Illinois,  were  long 
slightly  submerged,  or  at  least  so  depressed  as  to  constitute  fresh- water 
marshes,  a  fact  indicated  by  much  of  the  coal  flora;  but  that  occasionally, 
for  periods  of  considerable  duration,  long  enough  to  form  limestone 
beds  two  to  twelve  feet  thick,  containing  marine  organisms,  the  waters 
of  the  ocean  must  have  covered  parts  of  this  valley.  By  an  increased 
depression,  at  a  subsequent  period,  over  portions  of  the  great  valley 
which  now  form  plains  from  one  to  five  thousand  feet  above  the  ocean, 
and  which  were  possibly  near  the  shore,  the  sea  must  have  remained 
for  ages  to  permit  the  life,  death  and  subsequent  fossilization  of  a  Per- 
mian Flora  and  Fauna,  as  seen  in  Kansas,  a  Triassic  found  in  Connec- 
ticut and  other  eastern  States;  patches  of  Oolite,*  both  in  our  Atlantic 
and  Pacific  ridges;  a  cretaceous  deposit  found  occupying  a  belt  from 
Nebraska,  through  Arkansas  to  Tennessee,  and  portions  of  the  Atlan- 
tic States,  as  well  as  the  superincumbent  Tertiary  with  lignite  beds, 
and  locally  abundant  marine  shells,  Echinoderms,  corals,  &c. 

After  the  lapse  of  these  long  periods  a  vast  accumulation  of  mate- 
rials rounded  by  attrition  has  evidently  been  brought  by  some  agency, 
now  usually  supposed  glacial,  from  the  north,  depositing  in  the  higher 
latitude  enormous  rounded  bowlders,  weighing  hundreds  of  tons.  In 
the  latitudes  south  of  50°  north,  in  the  United  States,  these  bowlders 
usually  diminish  to  the  weight  of  at  most  a  few  tons,  then  a  few  hun- 
dred pounds,  and  finally,  south  of  the  Ohio  river,  we  have  rarely  evi- 
dence of  erratics  and  find  mostly  a  transported  gravel,  sand  or  quater- 
nary clay,  reposing  on  the  rocky  substratum.  On  the  eastern  shores  of 
our  pre-adamite  ocean,  Prof.  Hitchcock  saw  White-Mountain  bowlders 
at  over  5,000  feet  of  elevation;  and  on  the  western  Rocky  Mountain 
border  of  the  same  supposed  ancient  sea,  Col.  Fremont  detected  erratics 
at  about  the  same  hyperoceanic  level.  In  the  central  portion  of  the 
valley,  except  about  Yicksburg  and  other  parts  of  the  State  of  Mississippi, 
either  the  waters  were  too  deep  for  the  formation  of  Permian  Oolitic, 
Cretaceous  and  Tertiary  deposits,  or  they  have  been  swept  away,  leav- 
ing no  traces,  down  to  the  Coal  Measures. 

During  the  Drift  or  Erratic  or  Older  Quaternary  period,  whether  or 


*See  Col.  Fremont's  expedition  to  the  Rocky   Mountains,  pages  131  and  277 ;  also,  Hitch- 
cock's Geology  of  the  Globe,  p.  99. 


OF   INDIANA.  231 


not  an  estuary  in  our  valley  aided  the  glaciers  and  icebergs  of  the  north 
to  disperse  these  erratics  in  a  southerly  direction,*  and  groove  the  rocks 
over  which  the  angular  fragments  were  transported,  it  seems  at  least 
evident  that  a  great  depression  finally  remained,  possibly  in  part  the 
crater  of  a  subterranean  volcano,f  in  part  an  estuary,  converted  as  it 
dried  up  into  a  later  Quaternary  valley  of  deundation,  ultimately  re- 
taining in  places  bodies  of  fresh  water,  then  constituting  a  great  chain 
of  lakes  and  river  courses,  imbedding  particularly  in  the  valley  of  the 
Ohio,  with  recent  shells,!  the  skeleton  of  the  Megalonyx,  Mastodon, 
and  similar  mammals,  in  Alabama  the  Zeuglodon,  &c.  Humboldt, 
Mrs.  Somerville  and  other  eminent  writers,  on  physical  geography  con- 
sider all  great  plains,  steppes,  llanos,  pampas  and  prairies  as  the  ancient 
bed  of  a  water  basin,  ocean,  estuary,  salt  or  fresh  water  lake;  and  the 
evidence  offered  throughout  the  entire  prairie  region,  visited  during  the 
Indiana  survey,  goes  to  prove  that,  although  prairies  are  of  very  varied 
elevation,  the  lower  ones  now  rapidly  draining,§  are  usually  the  most 
level,  with  a  swamp  -muck  surface  and  marl  or  a  clayey  sub  soil,  and 
are  almost  invariably  surrounded,  wholly  or  partially,  and  sometimes 
also  traversed,  by  sandy  or  gravelly  ridges.  More  elevated  prairies  are 
usually  more  sandy  or  gravelly,  or  undulating  from  deundation,  as  they 
become  higher  and  drier.  The  clay  sometimes  extends  to  hundreds  of 
feet  in  depth,  with  only  an  occasional  thin  bed  of  sand  intervening,  and 
is  so  fine,  like  the  impalpable  mud  deposited  in  the  beds  of  some  rivers 
and  lakes,  and  we1!  exhibited  on  their  drying  up,  as  to  offer  no  chance 
for  the  necessary  air  and  moisture  to  penetrate  far  enough  for  the  growth 
of  forest-tree  seeds,  whose  roots  require  a  subsoil-permeating-space  al- 
most equal  to  their  aerial  ramification.  That  this  necessary  aeration 

*As  Prof.  Hitchcock  remarks,  the  Drift  may  not  always  have  the  north  to  south  direction 
observed  in  the  erratics  of  North  America  and  Scandinavia. 

tThe  evidences  towards  this  conclusion  are  very  strong  in  the  miles  of  basaltic  columns 
*ad  dikes,  amagdaloid  and  other  volcanic  rocks  on  the  north  shore  of  Lake  Superior. 


deposits  imbedding  the  shells  and  bones  are  often  associated  with  a  rich  marl  bed, 
extending  occasionally  some  miles  each  way  from  the  great  rivers,  and  evidently  older  than 
the  modified  later  Quaternary  of  the  second  bottoms,  or  last  terrace  but  one.  Sir  Chas.  Lyell 
considered  these  marl  beds  the  equivalent  of  the  loess  of  the  Rhine.  Forty-two  feet  below 
the  surface  of  the  modified  Drift  in  the  W  abash  valley  we  found  coarse-grained  dicolyledo- 
nous  wood  resembling  willow  or  cottonwood,  about  four  inches  in  |diameter,  and  extending 
«ix  or  eight  feet  across  the  excavation,  how  much  further  was  not  ascertained. 

2  As  already  stated,  places  were  shown  me  near  the  Kankakee  where  three  years  before  a 
man  would  have  mired  down;  now  they  ar«  wagoning  their  hay  from  adjoining  prairies 
ssafely  across  these  formerly  quaking  bogs. 


232  GEOLOGICAL  RECONNOISSANCE 

and  watering  of  the  sub-soil  for  the  germination  of  trees  is  often  effect- 
ed near  river  courses  by  long  continued  moisture,  being  probably  taken 
up  through  capillary  attraction,  is  rendered  probable  from  observing 
the  rise  and  fall  of  water  in  wells  near  rivers,*  and  from  our  finding 
generally  a  belt  of  large  timber  on  the  water  courses  of  treeless  plains, 
as  well  as  scrubby  timber  on  the  porous  sand-ridges  of  prairies.  The 
same  is  made  further  evident  from  the  fact  that  artificial  stirring  of  the 
soil  soon  enables  the  settler  to  have  his  orchards  and  walnut  groves,  &c., 
and  the  analytical  chemist  also  shows  that  no  essential  ingredient  is 
lacking  in  the  prairie  soil.  In  short  the  difficulty  arises  evidently  from 
a  mechanical  not  a  chemical  defect,  consisting  in  the  compact,  imper- 
vious nature  of  these  hydrographic-basin  soils;  plants  deriving  most  of 
their  nourishment  through  gases  and  the  solvent  power  of  water  hold- 
ing saline  and  other  ingredients  in  solution.  In  the  prairie  soil,  air  and 
moisture  penetrate  this  refractory  stratum  far  enough  to  nourish  grasses 
and  some  herbaceous  plants,  but  not  to  a  sufficient  depth  for  the  spon- 
gioles  of  a  ramifying  tree-root.  In  some  wet  prairies,  where  the  mois- 
ture extends  far  enough,  the  growth  is  only  favorable  to  certain  aquatic 
or  marshy  plants,  on  account  of  the  warm  and  stagnant  water  decom- 
posing the  seeds  of  many  plants  before  they  have  time  to  germinate. 
Those  who  have  drained  thousands  of  acres  of  lakef  or  swamp  land, 
give  their  testimony  that,  after  a  few  years,  they  have  exactly  the  ap- 
pearance and  character  of  low  prairies. 

Other  vast  regions  are  a  drifting  sand,  which  in  certain  latitudes  and 
with  sufficient  atmospheric  moisture  will  give  rise  to  specific  vegeta- 
tion, but  in  climatological  circumstances  less  favorable  to  evaporation 
and  deposition,  (such  as  a  vast  continent,  absence  of  trees,  the  arrest  of 
clouds  by  high  mountains  skirting  the  rainless  district,  or  too  much 
heat  for  the  reduction  of  the  surcharged  cloud  to  the  dew-point  tem- 
perature, necessary  for  rain,)  may  often  remain  arid  and  uninhabitable 
deserts,  only  furnishing  a  few  oases,  at  spots  where  water  reaches  the 
surface  from  some  favoring  cause. 

The  vast  regions  of  sand  seem  sometimes  to  have  been  the  shore  or 
sea  beach  of  the  great  ante-historic  water-expanse,  that  formerly  cov- 


*A  high  freshet  ill  the  Wabash  not  only  rises  the  water  high  in  the  New  Harmony  wells, 
but  even  filters  into  some  of  the  cellars  in  the  lower  part  of  town  500  yards  from  the  left  bank 
of  the  river. 

tSee  the  remarks  on  the  draining  of  Beaver  Lake  by  Major  Dunn,  given  among  the  details 
of  Jasper  and  Newton  counties. 


OF    INDIANA.  233 


ered  the  large  valleys,  and  may  be  more  usually  an  accumation,  rather 
South,  of  the  extensive  plains  than  North,  from  causes  dependent  either 
on  prevalent  winds  raising  sand  banks,  on  southern  elevations  of  land, 
or  on  a  northern  depression,  or  possibly  may  be  influenced  remotely  by 
the  earth's  rotation  and  the  oblate  spheroidal  form. 

In  our  own  State  it  is  scarcely  possible  for  any  one,  after  closely  ex- 
amining the  regions  south  of  Lake  Michigan,  to  deny  that  the  lake  is 
having  its  waters  gradually  dammed  up  on  the  southern  shore,  and  that 
for  ages  past  sand  ridges  parallel  to  the  lake  shore  have  been  redeem- 
ing land  from  the  lake  partly  as  prairie  swales,  partly  as  more  elevated 
arenaceous  banks.  Possibly,  indeed  probably,  the  chief  outlet  for  these 
waters  was  formerly  through  the  Mississippi  valley  south,  and  succes- 
sive elevation  through  these  ridges  alone,  from  the  prevalence  of  north- 
ern winds  and  waves  piling  up  the  sand  on  the  south  shore,  or  the  above 
combined  with  a  gradual  rise  of  land,  may  have  compelled  the  lakes  to 
empty  themselves  by  their  eastern  basin  margin,  overcoming  the  pre- 
vious subordinate  side  slope  elevations,  and  even  damming  up  such 
streams  as  St.  Mary's  river  and  St.  Joseph  in  north-east  Indiana,  forc- 
ing the  waters  through  the  Maumee  river  almost  directly  back  upon 
their  original  course  of  descent.  This  may  have  occurred  as  early  aa 
the  Drift-period,  when  vast  accumulations  of  gravel  and  sand  were  de- 
posited in  the  north  and  south  lines  of  depression,  subordinate  valleys 
intervening  in  Indiana,  between  the  strike  of  different  geological  form- 
ations, deepened  by  subsequent  deundation. 

The  great  deposits  of  sand  south,  usually  somewhat  west,  of  the 
plains  or  valleys  and  adjoining  a  height  of  land  or  mountain  range,  be- 
sides being  partly  caused  by  changes  of  level,  may  be  also  partly  due 
in  some  parts  of  the  globe  to  detritus  from  the  mountain  slopes,  but 
generally  appear  more  like  the  accumulations,  which  can  be  seen  wash- 
ed and  drifted,  as  bowlders,  gravel  and  sand,  on  the  shore  of  Lake  Su- 
perior, such  as  have  been  described  in  this  Report,*  as  occurring  on  the 
south  shore  of  Lake  Michigan  to  the  elvation  of  one  hundred  and 
seventy-six  feet,  and  in  ridges  parallel  to  the  lake  shore  in  concentric 
curves,  sometimes  a  few  miles  apart,  with  intervening  prairie,  &c.,  con- 
sequently in  all  probability  the  effect  of  wind,  and  water  and  ice  com- 
bined. 

Whether  this  drifted  sand  has  been  the  result  chiefly  of  former  south- 

*See  the  details  of  St.  Joseph  and  LaPorte  counties. 


234  GEOLOGICAL  RECONNOISSANCE 

erly  currents,  or  whether  it  is  due  to  a  still  prevailing  wind,  or  partly 
perhaps  to  laws  connected  with  the  earth's  motion  from  west  to  east, 
and  the  equatorial  configuration  of  our  globe,  or  to  all  combined,  re- 
mains for  future  examination  and  determination.* 

The  effect  of  such  accumulations  of  sand  barriers  on  the  drainage 
of  a  country  is  well  illustrated  by  reference  to  Mr.  Ellet's  valuable  re- 
marks on  the  Mississippi  valley  and  its  rivers,  in  which  he  shows  that 
among  the  steep  banks  on  the  Allegheny  river,  a  dam  or  barrier  fifty- 
eight  feet  high  would  create  a  pond  twenty-five  miles  long;  of  course 
the  area  in  a  more  level  district  would  be  much  greater. 

If  the  head  waters  of  the  St.  Croix,  flowing  into  the  Mississippi, 
were  connected  across  the  present  short  and  low  portage  with  the 
sources  of  the  Bois  brule  or  other  Lake  Superior  tributary,  the  waters 
of  that  lake  could  b3  made  to  flow  into  the  Gulf  of  Mexico;  and  if  a 
canal  some  1,300  miles  long  were  constructed,  there  is  fall  enough,  al- 
lowing an  inch  to  the  mile,  to  drain  Lake  Superior  into  the  Gulf  until 
less  than  300  feet  of  water  remained;  inasmuch  as  the  surface  of  the 
water  is  618  feet  above  high  tide  in  the  ocean,  and  the  greatest  depth 
of  the  lake  is  791  feet. 

Attention  is  called  to  this  fact  not  with  the  slightest  intention  of 
recommending  such  work  as  practical  or  useful,  but  simply  as  the  most 
ready  mode  of  giving  a  general  idea  of  the  relative  levels,  the  former 
and  present  draining  of  our  portion  of  the  Mississippi  valley,  the  grad- 
ual diminution  of  the  waters  on  the  south  shore  of  Lake  Michigan, 
and  the  probable  increase  of  drainage  through  the  river  and  Gulf  of 
St.  Lawrence. 

It  is  thought  there  is  strong  proof  offered  in  the  details  of  the  Re- 
port on  the  Indiana  counties  situated  in  the  Drift  or  Early  Quaternary 
Formation  to  show  that  if  our  valley  were  again  depressed  for  a  suffi- 
cient period  we  should  have  all  the  requisites  to  present  at  a  subsequent 
elevation  a  genuine  coal-field.  But  before  proceeding  to  collate  and 
compare  some  of  those  details,  it  is  deemed  advisable  to  recapitulate 
briefly  the  evidence  that  our  prairies  and  plains  are  the  result  of  a 
gradually  dried  estuary  bed  : 

1.  Drained  lakes  have  very  much  the  appearance  and  character  of 
prairies,  as  proved  by  the  experience  of  Major  Dunn  and  others  on  Bea- 
ver Lake. 


*If  similar  phenomena  were  observable  in  the  southern  hemisphere,  with,  however,  the 
points  of  the  compass  reversed,  the  latter  supposition  would  assume  considerable  probability. 


OF  INDIANA.  235 


2.  The  great  North  American  valley,  like  those  of  Europe  and  Asia, 
exhibits  the  lowest  ground  centrally,  and  gradually  rises  on  both  sides 
of  this  central  drainage  to  higher  ground  by  successive  terraces,  which 
are  evidently  ancient  water  marks. 

3.  The  lower  prairies  are  often  composed  of  gravel,  sand  and  clay, 
with  some  bowlders,  such  as  might  be  found  at  the  bed  of  a  lake  or 
estuary.     The  higher  prairies  are  more  gravelly  and  have  also  bowlders 
like  those  of  the  lacustrine  shores.     The  accumulation  or  piling  up  of 
materials  on  the  lake-shores  can  be  most  satisfactorily  studied  around 
Lake  Superior,  between  the  headlands. 

4.  The  great  prairies  have  smaller  arms  of  prairies  running  into  the 
timber,  exactly  as  we  see  the  bays  and  coves  of  estuaries  and  lakes  cut- 
ting into  the  low  shores. 

5.  The  timber  groves  are  almost  invariably  more  elevated  and  sand/ 
than  some  near  adjoining  prairie,  just  as  the  islands  and  sandbars  left, 
when  a  lake  or  river  is  drained,  would  be  higher  and  more  arenaceous 
than  the  dried,  muddy  ooze,  compacted  by  dessiccation  into  a  soil  too 
impervious  for  the  germination  of  forest  trees. 

6.  The  growth  approaching  to  good  sized  timber,  which  we  first  see  on 
drained  prairies,  is  usually  a  willow,  or  one  of  the  true  poplar  family,  as 
cotton-wood  or  aspen,  (Populus  monilifera  and  P.  tremuloides) ;  this 
is  also  often  the  first  growth  on  a  river  sandbar  or  dried  up  bottom. 

7.  Extensive  borings  exhibit  on  the  prairies  vast  deposits  of  clay,  with 
occasional  beds  of  sand,  the  whole  sometimes  covered  by  a  humus 
many  feet  thick.     This  is  very  much  the  character  of  the  materials 
exhibited  on  boring  in  some  drained  lakes  and  water  courses. 

8.  In  nearly  all  the  numerous  observations  made  during  this  survey 
the  prairies  were  found  to  some  extent  surrounded  by  sand  rides  with 
scrubby  trees,  and  if  another  prairie  succeeded  at  a  greater  elevation,  it 
was  also  partially  surrounded  by  sand-banks,  and  a  third  or  even  a 
fourth  occurred  similar  in  character,  except  being  a  little  more  elevated; 
just  as  the  chain  of  lakes  would  appear  if  drained,  which  extends  from 
Lake  of  the  Woods,  through  Eainy  Lake,  &c.,  to  the  mouth  of  Pigeon 
river  in  Lake  Superior;  or  from  Lake  Athabasca,  through  Great  Slave 
Lake,  into  Great  Bear  Lake  and  McKenzie  river  of  the  Arctic  ocean, 
or  any  similar  terrace  chain  of  fresh-water  expanses. 

9.  Nearly  all  the  low,  flat,  or  gently  undulating  prairies  of  North 
America  are  in  a  belt  extending  south  of  our  great  American  lakes,  to 
the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  through  Indiana,  Illinois,  Missouri,  Arkansas  and 

Texas,  while  east  and  west  of  those  we  have  higher  and  more  rolling 
15 


236  GEOLOGICAL  KECONNOISSANCE 

arenaceous  prairies  in  Michigan,  Wisconsin  and  Iowa,  and  cypress 
swamps  in  part  of  Louisiana,  rising  to  Buffalo  and  Artemesia  plains  in 
Nebraska,  Kansas  and  Indian  Territory,  and  finally  to  the  great  table 
lands  of  Utah,  with  Pinus  monophyllus  and  some  Yucca  growth,  or  the 
Mexican  plateau  of  cactus,  palmetto  and  date  trees. 

Let  us  now  examine  how  far  these  vast  natural  meadows  would  re- 
semble our  coal  fields,  if  the  former  were  partially  submerged  for  a  long 
period,  and  subsequently  elevated : 

1.  They  would  have  the  same  basin-like  form  observed  in  all  our  ex- 
tensive coal  fields,  with  an  increased  rate  of  dip  near  the  margins. 

2.  These  herbaceous  prairies  and  adjoining  cypress  swamps  of  Indi- 
ana and  elsewhere,  with  occasional  drifted  timber  swamps,  would  afford 
about  the  same  character  and  amount  of  material,  &c.,  viz :  decompo- 
sing vegetable  matter,  which  chiefly  by  the  loss  of  its  oxygen  has  evi- 
dently furnished  the  hydro-carbon  coal  beds,  usually  three  or  four  feet 
to  eight,  ten  and  even  occasionally  thirty  or  forty  feet  in  thickness, 
during  the  true  Carboniferous  era,  as  well  as  the  concomitant  fossil  re- 
sins, bitumens,  &c. 

3.  Underneath  this  ligneous  fibre,  humus,  &c.,  would  be  commonly 
found  a  clay  or  aluminous  deposit,  just  as  we  usually  find  a  bed  of  fire- 
clay beneath  the  coal-seam. 

.4.  At  a  higher  elevation  than  the  swamp-muck  exists  often  a  sand 
ridge  such  as  those  immediately  south  of  Lake  Michigan,  which  dur- 
ing submergence  would  probably  be  somewhat  leveled  and  more  equally 
distributed  over  the  ligneous  detrital  beds  of  the  future  coal,  alternating 
with  the  mud  deposited  by  the  overflowing  water,  thus  furnishing 
future  roof  shales,  locally  of  sandstone,  more  generally  of  aluminous 
schists. 

5.  If  prairie  after  prairie,  with  its  groves,  were  submerged,  and  stra- 
tum after  stratum  received  its  dying  vegetation,  peat-mosses,  ferns, 
grasses,  shrubs,  trees,  as  well  as  its  overwhelmed  inhabitants,  mollusks, 
crustaceans,  fishes,  reptiles,  birds  and  mammals,  we  would  have  a  suc- 
cession of  beds  and  of  paleeontological  variety  not  very  dissimilar  in 
their  general  character  from  those  of  the  carboniferous  flora  and  fauna, 
only  that  the  vegetables  and  animals  would  usually  be  more  highly  or- 
ganized. 

6.  Some  of  the  beds  (which  then  would  resemble  our  brasher  and 
more  western  coal,)  might  result  chiefly  from  prairie  humus  with  decay- 
ing ferns,  cat-flags,  rushes,  rosin  wreeds,  wild  indigo  and  other  shrubs, 
willows,  aspens,  &c.,  or  further  west,  the  woody  fibre  from  countless  gen- 


OP   INDIANA.  237 


eration  of  sage  bushes,  (Artemesia)  and  the  like,  the  detrital  accumu- 
lation of  ages  might  furnish  the  predominant  material.  The  animal 
remains  would  be  mostly  the  land  and  fresh  water  shells,  (such  as  those 
covering  the  prairie  near  the  Kankakee  river,  described  in  the  report 
on  Lake  and  Porter  counties,)  crawfishes  and,  in  places,  a  swamped  elk 
or  reindeer,*  as  in  the  Irish  peat-bogs  the  Megaceros  is  found,  possibly 
even  a  representative  of  the  human  family,  misled  by  an  ignis  fatuus  and 
irretrievably  mired.  In  the  great  plains  might  occur  the  fossil  bones  of 
a  buffalo,  prairie  dog,  or  occasionally,  the  glutton  wolverene,  (Gulo 
luscus.)  More  bituminous  and  anthracitic  bedsf  would  be  likely  to  re- 
sult from  the  chemical  changes  which  the  cellulose  of  the  transported 
trees  buried  hundreds  of  feet  in  the  delta  of  the  Mississippi  river,  would 
furnish,  or  from  the  vast  natural  rafts  of  drift-wood  in  Red  river,  simi- 
lar accumulations  of  less  extent  in  the  "bottoms"  or  lowest  terraces 
of  other  tributaries;  as  well  as  in  the  northern  cedar  and  tamarack  or 
southern  cypress  swamps.  Associated  with  the  former  are  abundant 
Balsam  Firs,  (Abies  balsamea,)  the  exudations  of  whose  blistered  bark, 
would  readily  furnish  a  transparent  viscous  resin  to  enclose  a  struggling 
mosquito,  in  lieu  of  any  prse- historic  insect,  and  render  up,  on  examin- 
ation, a  fossil  resin  as  pure  as  any  amber  that  ever  stranded  on  the 
shores  of  the  Baltic.  The  cypress  "knees,"  the  piny  needle-leaves, 
leaving  in  some  species  a  double  bark-scar,  and  the  abundant  fire-cones, 
would  have  some  points  of  resemblance,  at  least  externally,  with  the 
trigonocarpon,  supposed  to  belong  to  a  conifer,  and  the  lycopodeaceons 
lepidodendron,  carrying  its  pendant  lepidostrobus,  also  with  the  some- 
what allied  sigillarise  and  not  yet  fully  assigned  stigmarian  roots. 

It  seems  unnecessary  to  enumerate  the  animals  which  under  the  sup- 
posed circumstances  might  be  found  fossil,  such  as  the  alligator  and 
chameleon,  &c,,  in  the  south,  perhaps  the  porcupine  or  tynx  of  Canada, 
an  oppossum  or  raccoon,  the  pinnated  grouse  of  the  prairie,  or  the  com- 
mon meadow-lark. 

7.  Associated  with  some  of  these  beds  would   be  quantities  of  the 
bog  iron-ore  (hydrated  peroxide)  representing  the  iron  ores  usually 
found  with  the  low  coals,  sometimes  with  the  sub-conglomerate  series. 

8.  The  prairie  deposits,  such  as  those  of   the  Grand  Prairie  near 


*The  horns  of  elk  are  found  abundantly  about  Lake  Superior,  and  traces  of  reindeer  are 
by  no  means  uncommon  in  the  same  region. 

tSee  the  numerous  comparative  analyses  of  coals  in  Bischof  a  Chemical  and  Physical  Geol- 
ogy, vol.  1,  page  258  et  seg. 


238  GEOLOGICAL  RECONNOISSANCE 

^ __ 

Mounts  Gilbo  and  Nebo,  described  in  the  details  of  Jasper  county, 
might  often  be  found  resting  on  the  coarse  gravel  of  older  Quaternary 
age,  just  as  the  low  coals  rest  on  the  true  Carboniferous  Conglomerate 
or  Millstone  Grit. 

9.  That  such  a  deposit  of  fossil  fuel  should  be  formed  at  some  future 
age  from  the  submergence  of  our  prairies,  plains  and  swamps,  or  from 
the  vast  heaths  and  bogs,  steppes  and  savannas  of  other  regions,  seems 
not  improbable,  when  we  consider  that  nearly  every  geological  period 
has  been  ushered  in  or  separated  from  the  preceding  by  a  deposit  of 
drifted,  rounded  and  sometimes  re-cemented  materials,  to  which  we 
give  the  designation  of  conglomerate.  Further,  we  have  in  each  geo- 
logical epoch  successions  of  sandstone,  limestone  and  shales,  affording, 
after  the  earliest  palaeozoic  periods,  when  some  dry  land  made  its  ap- 
pearance, evidences  of  basins  of  organic  matter  converted  into  coal, 
even,  it  is  said,  as  early  as  the  Devonian  period.  Somewhat  thicker 
layers  are  found,  as  circumstances  became  more  favorable,  during  the 
deposition  of  the  sub-carboniferous  sandstone  and  limestone  series,  cul- 
minating to  its  maximum  during  the  epoch  of  the  true  Coal  Measures. 
These  sub-carboniferous  coal  deposits  can  be  interestingly  seen  and  ex- 
tensively examined  in  Indiana.  The  Oolitic  period  also  furnished  its 
vegetable  matter  for  conversion  into  coal,  and  some  of  that  material 
mined  in  Eastern  Virginia  is  assigned  to  the  Oolite,  as  well  as  some  coal 
and  shales  containing  fossil  ferns,  found,  on  the  western  side  of  the 
Kocky  Mountains,  by  Col.  Fremont  and  described  by  Prof.  Hall  as 
probably  of  that  age.  One  locality  is  near  Fort  Hall,  the  other  near 
Utah  lakes.;  both  at  an  elevation  of  between  four  and  five  thousand 
feet  above  the  sea.  In  the  Upper  Oolite  of  Europe,  the  Lower  Pur- 
beck  exhibits,  according  to  Sir.  Chas.  Lyell,  "beneath  a  thin  marine 
band,  purely  fresh-water  marls."  *  *  "Below  the  marls  are  thirty 
feet  of  blackish  water  beds."  *  *  "The.  great  dirt  bed  or  vegetable 
soil,  *  *  rests  upon  the  lowest  fresh- water  limestone,"  which  in  its 
turn  rests  on  the  Portland  stone  of  purely  marine  origin.  The  black 
di.rt,  according  to  the  same  author,  "was  evidently  an  ancient  vegeta- 
ble soil.  It  is  from  twelve  to  eighteen  inches  thick,  is  of  a  dark  brown 
or  black  color,  and  contains  a  large  portion  of  earthy  lignites.  Through 
it  are  dispersed  rounded  fragments  of  stone  from  three  to  nine  inches  in 
diameter,  in  such  numbers  that  it  almost  deserves  the  name  of  gravel. 
Many  silicified  trunks  of  coniferous  trees  and  the  remains  of  plants 
allied  to  Zamla  or  Cyeas  are  buried  in  the  dirt  beds."  The  above  de- 
scription fills  in* many  respects  the  outline  of  the  appearance  which 


OF  INDIANA.  239 


some  of  our  prairies  and  adjoining  groves  might  be  supposed  to  pre- 
sent after  long  submergence  and  partial  fossilization,  and  subsequent 
elevation  or  at  least  dessiccation. 

In  the  Tertiary  Period  there  are  abundant  beds  of  good  lignite  or 
Brown  coal,  usually  lighter,  but  sometimes  scarcely  distinguishable  from 
cannel  coal  seams  of  the  true  Coal  Measures. 

If  then  we  have  beds  of  sub-carboniferous  coal,  coal  fields  of  the  true 
carboniferous  fossil  fuel,  Oolitic  coal  and  Tertiary  coal,  does  it  seem  im- 
probable when  we  observe  similar  agencies  at  work,  that  there  should 
hereafter  result  a  Quaternary  coal.  The  marine  accompaniments  would 
be  especially  liable  to  occur  in  regions  similar  to  that  of  the  Great  Dis- 
mal Swamp,  supposing  a  slight  subsidence  of  the  land,  or  an  unusual 
breaking  down  of  sea  barriers  between  the  Chesapeake  Bay  and  Albe- 
marle  Sound,  or  in  the  everglades  of  Florida,  and  the  inundated  prairies 
and  marshes  of  Louisiana  and  Texas;  but  they  might  also  exist  through 
the  great  valley  of  the  Mississippi,  supposing  a  depression  of  a  few 
hundred  feet  which  would  suffice  to  connect  the  waters  of  Hudson's 
Bay  with  those  of  the  Gulf  cf  Mexico.  A  similar  result  might  occur 
from  a  rise  of  our  Appalachian  chain  and  Atlantic  sea-board,  to  about 
an  elevation  equivalent  to  the  above  supposed  inter-montanic  depres- 
sion, in  which  case  we  might  expect  to  see  extensive  strata  made  up  of 
consolidated  oyster  beds,  and  long  reefs  of  coraliferous  limestone  with 
a  due  imbedding  of  New  Jersey  King-crabs,  Georgia  saw-fish,  sting- 
rays, echini  and  star-fishes,  Florida  green-tortoises,  &c. 

The  greatest  depth  of  the  Atlantic  between  New  Foundland  and 
Ireland  is  12,740  feet,  but  a  continuous  internal  force  acting  moderately 
for  a  lengthened  period,  or  a  sudden  convulsion,  such  as  has  occurred 
more  than  once  in  the  Historic  Period,  to  elevate  a  Graham's  Island  or 
a  Monte  Nuovo,  and  such  as  all  geognostic  observations  tell  us  must 
have  happened  frequently  in  the  earth's  history,  might  readily  lay  dry 
portions  of  the  "telegraphic  plateau,"  parts  of  which  are  at  present  one 
to  two  thousand  feet  below  the  surface,  or  upheave  an  island  teaming 
with  the  fucus-vegetation  of  the  Sargasso  Sea,  which  obstructed  the 
ships  of  Columbus,  and  which,  although  it  does  not  grow  at  a  greater 
depth  than  200  feet,  may  for  ages  have  been  depositing  its  detritus  at 
the  bed  of  the  ocean. 

It  may  be  proper  to  observe  that  some  eminent  writers  (see  remarks 
of  Mr.  Lesquereux  in  vol.  3,  Kentucky  Report,  page  523,)  deny  any  true 
marine  formation  of  coaZ,  adding  that  "there  does  not  exist  a  bed  of 
true  marine  peat,  viz:  peat  formed  entirely  of  fucoides  and  marine 


240  GEOLOGICAL    RECONNOLSSANCE. 

plants;"  and  that  he  has  "never  seen  a  piece  of  coal  with  evident 
marks  of  marine  origin."  But  the  same  writer,  at  page  552,  qualifies 
the  above  and  admits  marine  accompaniments,  by  stating  that  "where  a 
quiet  water  is  high  and  the  marine  element  predominating,  a  lime- 
stone may  be  formed,  when  at  the  same  time,  in  more  shallow  marshes, 
the  plants  will  grow  and  their  remains  make  a  deposit  of  coal  or  shales." 
Bischof,  vol.  1,  page  205,  of  his  work  already  quoted,  after  contending 
that  "all  the  hypotheses  referring  to  the  formation  of  coal  from  par- 
tial vegetable  remains,  agree  in  ascribing  the  origin  of  coal  to  mate- 
rials, comparatively  less  abundant  than  is  consistent  with  the  immense 
,  quantities  of  this  substance,"  adds  on  the  next  page:  "Fuel,  exposed 
to  the  influence  of  a  high  temperature  and  water,  are  decomposed  after 
a  few  days;  therefore  it  cannot  be  doubted  that  after  their  decomposi- 
tion they  would  have  sunk  into  the  sea,  and  furnished  material  for  the 
formation  of  coal;  moreover,  varieties  of  fuci  actually  occur  in  a  fossil 
state  in  coal."  As  proof  of  this  Bischof  refers  to  Brown,  Handbuch 
einer  Geschichte  der  Natur,  T.  Ill,  p.  61. 

Without  for  a  moment  designing  to  decide  between  such  high  au- 
thority, I  quote  these  observations  mainly  to  show  that,  under  either 
supposition,  without  any  violent  straining  of  probabilities,  all  the  cir- 
cumstances might  readily  exist,  for  the  conversion  of  the  vegetable  de- 
tritus in  our  great  prairies  and  vast  plains  into  fuel  for  future  epochs. 

But  in  the  same  deposits  we  have  meanwhile  rich  agricultural  re- 
sources requiring  only  a  judicious  system  of  drainage  to  make  these 
humus  beds  sources  of  immense  wealth.  "We  are  therefore  naturally 
led  next  to  an  examination  of  this  eminently  practical  question. 

NOTE. — It  was  the  intention  to  subjoin  a  chapter  on  Drainage,  recommending,  where  prices 
of  agricultural  products  justified  it,  a  system  of  underdraining;  also,  to  give  a  chapter  on 
Palaeontology,  systematically  arranging  the  fossils  of  Indiana  obtained  from  the  different 
Formations ;  then  to  follow  with  an  exhibit  of  the  main  facts  collected  regarding  the  locali- 
ties, causes  and  other  concomitants  connected  with  rnilk-sickness,  and  finally  to  close  with  a 
miscellaneous  chapter  containing  suggestions  with  regard  to  the  best  mode  of  prosecuting 
the  Survey,  the  most  usefully  manner  of  arranging  the  State  collection  for  reference,  litho- 
logically,  palseontologically  and  zoologically,  as  well  as  recommendations  regarding  the  for- 
mation of  minor  illustrative  collections  for  public  schools;  but  a  call  to  serve  my  country  in 
maintaining  the  Union  and  the  Constitution  precludes  the  possibility  of  completing  that  de- 
sign, and  compels  me  to  close  the  report. 

CAMP  TIPPECANOE,  20th  June,  1861. 


A.  REPORT 


OF  THE 


CHEMICAL  ANALYSIS 


OF 


THIRTY-THREE  SOILS  OF  INDIANA, 


MADE  FOR  THE 


STATE  GEOLOGICAL  AND  AGKIOULTUKAL  SUEVEY, 


BY  EGBERT  PETER,  M.  D., 

PROFESSOR  OF  CHEMISTRY,  LEXINGTON,  KY. 


INTRODUCTORY  LETTER. 


CHEMICAL  LABORATORY,  LEXINGTON,  KY.,  April  30, 1860. 

DEAR  DOCTOR  : — I  have  the  pleasure  to  transmit  to  you  my  report  of 
the  chemical  analyses  of  thirty-three  of  the  soils  of  Indiana,  of  those 
collected  by  your  brother,  Prof.  Eichard  Owen,  in  his  reconnoissance  of 
a  part  of  the  State  in  1859.  They  have  been  carefully  analyzed  accord- 
ing to  the  method  described  by  me  in  my  chemical  report  in  the  third 
volume  of  Reports  of  the  Geological  Survey  vf  Kentucky,  (Frankfort, 
1857,)  and,  it  is  hoped,  may  throw  some  light  on  the  chemical  nature 
of  the  soils  of  Indiana,  in  the  regions  where  they  were  cpllected,  and 
aid  enlightened  agriculturalists  in  the  culture  of  their  lands. 

The  whole  number  of  soils  collected  by  your  brother  has  not  been 
examined,  (only  about  half  having  been  analyzed,)  because  of  the  lim- 
ited means  which  could  be  devoted  to  this  investigation ;  but  I  have 
selected  some  from  each  of  the  geological  formations  represented.  The 
number  now  reported  is,  however,  too  small  to  enable  us  to  make,  at  this 
time,  a  satisfactory  comparison  in  this  relation;  if  indeed  the  wide 
prevalence  of  the  Quaternary  deposits  may  not  interfere  with  it. 

Every  person  of  reflection  is  no  doubt  convinced  that  agriculture  lies 
at  the  very  foundation  of  our  national  prosperty.  Should  our  lands 
fail  to  support  the  population,  no  perfection  in  the  scheme  of  our  gov- 
ernment, no  honesty  or  skill  in  its  administration,  would  preserve  us 
from  decay  as  a  people.  It  is  therefore  our  duty,  as  well  as  that  of  the 
government,  to  foster  this  indispensable  branch  of  industry,  and  to  aid, 
as  much  as  possible  in  the  establishment  of  a  correct  and  philosophical 
system  of  agriculture. 

Experience  of  the  diminution  of  agricultural  products,  not  only  in 
the  old  and  long  worn  lands  of  Europe  and  of  the  older  States,  but 
also  in  our  new  States,  has  shown  that  in  the  ordinary  modes  of  culti- 
vation of  the  soil,  the  land  undergoes  a  gradual  and  sometimes  a  fatal 


244  GEOLOGICAL  RECONNOISSANCE. . 

deterioration;  so  that,  even  on  this  continent,  lands  which  were  abun- 
dently  fertile  to  the  early  settlers,  and  capable  of  supporting  and  en- 
riching a  dense  population,  are  now  wastes  which  no  longer  reward  the 
labor  of  cultivation,  or  only  yield  useful  crops  as  a  result  of  the  appli- 
cation of  foreign  manures,  in  the  forms  of  guano,  ashes,  bone  dust,  &c., 
from  abroad  or  from  the  neighboring  cities.  The  cause  of  this  impov- 
erishment is  now  clearly  made  known  by  the  aid  of  chemical  analysis ; 
which  is  the  only  mode  by  which  it  could  be  certainly  ascertained. 
Chemical  study  of  the  soil  and  of  plants  and  animals  has  demonstrated 
that  pertain  elements,  essential  to  vegetable  and  animal  development, 
are  gradually  consumed  from  the  soil  in  the  crops — that  the  soil  is  not 
a  unit  in  composition — that  while  the  great  bulk  of  it  acts  only  mechani- 
cally, or  physically,  in  the  support  of  vegetables,  the  mineral  elements 
which  are  essential  for  the  nourishment  and  growth  of  organic  beings, 
vegetable  or  animal,  are  found  in  it  only  in  relatively  small  proportion, 
and  must  be  carefully  husbanded  and  restored  to  it  in  order  to  main- 
tain constant  fertility.  Such  a  process  as  this,  by  which  the  land  would 
be  constantly  kept  up  to  the  height  of  fertility  and  would  annually  yield 
abundant  crops  without  any  diminution  of  its  richness,  would  be  the  per- 
fection of  agriculture.  Such  a  system  is  perfectly  practicable  in  an  agri- 
cultural community,  where  the  chemical  nature  of  soils,  of  manures, 
and  of  vegetable  and  animal  products  have  been  studied  and  under- 
stood. The  path  of  improvement  in  modern  agriculture,  therefore, 
lies  in  this  direction ;  and  it  is  the  duty  of  our  enterprising  farmers  to 
prepare  themselves  to  pursue  it,  by  the  scientific  study  of  their  profes- 
sion ;  and  that  of  States  and  communities  liberally  to  aid  progress  in 
this  pathway. 

The  fundamental  study  in  this  relation  is  that  of  the  chemical  nature 
of  soil ;  a  study  which  is  yet  in  its  infancy,  but  which  may  be  matured 
by  judicious  public  patronage  into  a  branch  of  science  of  extensive 

utility. 

Yours  respectfully, 

ROBERT  PETER. 
D.  D.  OWEN,  M.  D. 


EXPLANATORY  REMARKS. 


The  principal  elements  found  in  soils  which  are  essential  to  vege- 
table nourishment,  as  well  as  to  animal  growth  and  development,  are  the 
following : 

Carbon,  "\  First,  those  which  are  sometimes  called  the  organic  ele- 

Hydrogen,  I  ments,  because  from  the  greatest  weight  of  animal  and 

Oxygen,  [vegetable  bodies.     These  in  the  soil,  are  contained  in  the 

Nitrogen.  J  organic  and  volatile  matters,  so  called. 

Second,  What  are  called  the  mineral  or  inorgonic  elements ;  as  fol- 
lows : 

Potassium.,  "I  which  form  the  alkalies   Potash  and  Soda  when  they  are 

Sodium,  J  united  with  oxygen. 

Calcium,  |  which,  combined  with  oxygen,  form  Lime  and   Magne- 

Magnesium,  j  sia. 

Iron,  | 

Manoanese  )  ex^s^D&   as  Oxides  in  the  soil  and  in  the  plants,  &c. 

Silicon,  existing  in  the  soil  and  as  Silex  and  Silicic  acid  or  Silica,  which  is 

also  an  oxide,  or  a  compound  of  silicon  and  oxygen. 
Phosphorus,   "\  which,  combined    with   oxygen,   form   Phosphoric   and 
and  Sulphur.  )  Sulphuric  Acids. 

Chlorine,  Especially  combined  with  Sodium  as  common  salt. 
The  Carbon,  Hydrogen,  Oxygen  and  Nitrogen,  are  sometimes  called 
the  Atmospheric  elements,  because  they  exist  abundantly  in  the  air.  The 
great  bulk  of  the  atmosphere  being  Oxygen  and  Nitrogen  gases,  whilst 
water,  the  vapor  of  which  is  always  present  in  the  air  is  composed  only 
of  Oxygen  and  Hydrogen;  Carbonic  acid  also,  always  present  there, 
consists  of  Oxygen  and  Carbon ;  Ammonia,  which  is  never  absent  from 
the  atmosphere,  consists  of  Hydrogen  and  Nitrogen,  and  the  traces  of 
Nitric  acid  of  the  air  and  of  the  soil  are  composed  of  Oxygen  and  Ni- 
trogen. These  Atmospheric  elements,  forming  the  principal  weight  of 
animal  and  vegetable  bodies,  exist  also  abundantly  in  the  dark-colored 


246  GEOLOGICAL   RECONNOISSANCE 

material  called  sometimes  Humus,  which  blackens  the  garden  mould, 
and  is  derived  from  animal  and  vegetable  decomposition.  Abundantly 
present  wherever  air  and  water  exist,  which  is  every  where  on  the 
globe,  we  need  never  fear  their  exhaustion  in  any  locality.  The  sole 
care  of  the  agriculturalist,  in  regard  to  these,  being  to  favor  their  ap- 
plication to  his  growing  crops  in  an  available  condition;  on  which  it  is 
not  our  present  design  to  dilate. 

The  other  elements  called  the  Mineral  elements  by  distinction,  never 
enter  the  atmosphere,  except  in  dust,  but  are  confined  to  the  soil,  where 
they  all  exist  as  oxides.  They  were  orginal  constituent  elements  of  the 
rocks  of  which  the  globe  was  made,  and  from  which  the  soil  was  de- 
rived by  gradual  disintegration.  They  may  be  called  ihe  fixed  elements 
of  organized  beings,  because  when  these  decay,  or  are  burned  up, — 
whilst  the  atmospheric  elements  make  their  escape  into  the  air,  as  gases 
and  vapors — these  remain,  as  dust  or  ashes. 

The  greatest  bulk  of  all  soils  is  what  is  stated  as  Sand  and  Insoluble 
Silicates,  in  the  following  analysis :  Sand,  more  or  less  fine,  the  greater 
part  being  so  very  fine  as  to  have  been  very  generally  mistaken  by  wri- 
ters on  the  soil  for  clay,  (Alumina).  This  sand  is  mainly  mechanical 
in  its  action  on  vegetables;  not  only  serving  as  a  matrix  through  which 
the  nutritive  materials  are  diffused,  through  which  watery  solutions 
gases  and  vapors  penetrate  by  capillary  action,  but  also  a  loose  bed 
through  which  roots  and  rootlets  of  plants  may  ramify ;  giving  them  a 
fixed  support.  The  alumina  which  is  mixed  with  this  sand,  and  which 
forms  the  basins  of  clay,  exists  in  the  soil  in  variable  quantities,  making 
it  stiff,  heavy  and  cold,  of  the  nature  of  clay,  when  in  superabundance, 
from  the  tenacity  with  which  it  turns  water,  but  when  in  proper  pro- 
portion, as  in  the  rich  loam,  causing  the  soil  to  retain  not  only  the 
moisture  but  fertilizing  gases  and  the  humus  which  is  produced  from 
vegetable  and  animal  decomposition ;  for  which,  as  well  as  for  ammo- 
nia, it  has  a  strong  attraction ;  retaining  these  valuable  materials  on  the 
surface,  within  the  reach  of  growing  vegetables,  and  preventing  their 
too  rapid  waste  by  solution  in  the  water  which  penetrates  the  soil. 
Alumina,  derived  no  doubt,  originally,  from  the  felspar  of  the  original 
granitic  rock,  in  which  it  has  always  combined  with  much  alkali,  al- 
ways holds  in  store  a  considerable  proportion  of  potash.  It  is  not 
known  that  this  earth  Alumina  enters  into  the  composition  of  either 
vegetables  or  animals,  but  its  valuable  properties  make  it  an  almost  in- 
dispensable ingredient  of  the  fertile  soil.  The  oxides  of  iron  and  man- 
ganese which  are  almost  always  associated  with  sand  and  alumina  in 


• 


OF   INDIANA.  247 


soils,  act  both  mechanically  and  as  actual  nutritive  ingredients.  Some 
remarks  on  the  chemical  action  of  oxide  of  iron  in  the  soil  may  be 
found  below,  under  the  head  of  analysis  of  soil  No.  7. 

The  other  constituents  of  soil,  (except  sometimes  the  carbonate  of 
lime,)  are  in  much  smaller  proportion  and  are  all  essential  to  vegetable 
nourishment;  and  those  which  are  the  most  readily  removed  by  crop- 
ping are  the  organic  matters,  the  phosphates,  the  alkalies,  (potash  and 
soda,)  and  the  lime  and  magnesia. 

There  are  several  modes  in  which  these  may  be  gradually  alienated 
from  the  soil,  leaving  it  incapable  of  supporting  crops. 

They  may  be  rapidly  carried  off  in  heavy  green  crops,  as  garden  pro- 
ducts, tobacco,  heavy  crops  of  clover  or  grasses,  or  straw  from  large 
crops  of  grain,  taken  off  from  the  soil;  these  products  generally  carry 
away  a  large  proportion  of  the  alkalies,  and  of  lime  and  magnesia ; 
whilst  large  grain  crops,  or  animals  fed  on  the  ground,  cause  the  alien- 
ation of  more  of  the  phosphates  than  of  the  alkalies. 

The  soluble  ingredients  of  the  soil  may  be  actually  washed  out,  to  a 
considerable  extent,  by  abundant  rains  washing  through  a  soil  which  is 
kept  bare  of  vegetation  by  stirring  the  surface,  which  also  facilitates 
the  removal  of  the  finer  earthy  particles,  which  are  the  richest  portion. 
Hence  hoed  crops,  in  the  cultivation  of  which  a  larger  space  of  surface 
is  kept  clear  of  any  kind  of  vegetable  growth,  whilst  it  is  freely  exposed 
to  the  summer's  sun  and  the  washing  of  grains,  cause  a  greater  deteriora- 
tion of  the  soil  than  can  be  accounted  for  by  the  growing  crop  alone. 
The  heat  and  moisture,  aided  by  the  capillary  attraction  of  the  porous 
soil,  not  only  cause  a  rapid  decomposition  of  the  organic  matters  of  the 
soil,  by  favoring  oxidation,  but  the  water  which  penetrates  through  it, 
charged  as  it  always  is  with  carbonic  acid,  and  aided  by  the  organic 
acids  present,  always  dissolves  more  or  less  of  the  soluble  essential  ele- 
ments. Not  only  has  it  been  ascertained  by  experiment  that  a  field 
kept  constantly  stirred  during  the  growing  season,  and  on  which  noth- 
ing is  permitted  to  grow,  will  be  nearly  as  much  reduced  in  fertility  as 
a  similar  one  which  has  supported  a  crop ;  but,  notwithstanding  the 
positive  assertion  of  Liebig  to  the  contrary,  in  his  late  Letters  on  Mod- 
ern Agriculture,  the  writer  has  ascertained  by  numerous  experiments, 
that  water  containing  carbonic  acid  can  not  come  in  contact  with  fer- 
tile soil,  without  dissolving  a  small  quantity,  out,  more  or  less,  of  its 
essential  ingredients. 

In  the  ordinary  course  of  nature  this  loss  is  in  a  great  measure  pre- 
vented. The  surface  being  covered  with  growing  vegetable  which 


248  GEOLOGICAL   RECONNOISSANCE. 

gradually  absorb  the  solution  in  the  soil,  exhaling  the  water  rapidly 
from  their  green  surfaces  and  retaining  the  nutritive  mineral  elements, 
and  when  they  die,  their  decay  leaves  them  upon  the  surface  to  nourish 
another  generation  of  plants.  So  that  the  constant  result  of  this  natu- 
ral fallow  is  to  make  the  surface  more  and  more  fertile, — to  bring  the 
nutritive  elements  of  the  soil  more  and  more  to  the  surface. 

The  space  allotted  to  this  article  precludes  any  detailed  remarks  on 
the  best  modes  of  renovating  exhausted  soils,  &c.  For  full  instruction 
in  the  chemistry  of  agriculture  the  enquiring  student  can  be  at  no  loss 
for  able  modern  works.  We  commend  him  to  those  of  Johnston,  of 
Liebig,  and  to  the  modern  elementary  works  on  scientific  agriculture 
generally. 


CHEMICAL  ANALYSIS  OF  INDIANA  SOILS. 


ARRANGED  ACCORDING  TO  GEOLOGICAL  FORMATIONS. 


I.— SOILS  OF  THE  LOWER  SILURIAN  FORMATION. 

No.  1.  Virgin  soil  from  Mr.  "William  H.  Bennett's  farm,  north- 
west fourth  of  section  17,  township  12  north,  range  1  west,  Union  coun- 
ty, Indiana.  Lower  Silurian  formation.  Growth — Grey  and  Blue  Ash, 
Poplar,  and  a  few  Black  Walnuts.  The  dried  soil  is  of  a  light  umber 
color. 

No.  2.  Surface  soil,  forty  to  fifty  years  in  cultivation,  Wm.  H.  Ben- 
nett's farm,  (same  locality  as  above.)  Yields  forty  bushels  of  corn,  and 
fifteen  bushels  of  wheat  to  the  acre.  Dried  soil  of  a  dusty  grey-buff 
color. 

No.  3.  Sub-soil  of  the  same  old  field,  Wm.  H.  Bennett's  farm,  &c. 
Dried  soil  of  a  dirty-buff  color. 

No.  4.  Virgin  soil,  from  Mr.  J.  Hurty's  farm,  close  to  Liberty, 
Union  county,  Indiana.  Lower  Silurian  formation.  Growth — Beech, 
Poplar,  Oak,  and  some  Maple.  The  dried  soil  is  of  a  grey-umber  color. 

No.  5.  Surface  soil,  over  thirty  years  in  cultivation,  Mr.  J.  Hurty's 
farm,  &c.  His  land  produces  from  thirty-five  to  forty  bushels  of  corn, 
and  from  ten  to  twelve  bushels  of  wheat  to  the  acre ;  bears  good  grass, 
A  chalybeate  spring  not  far  off.  Dried  soil  of  a  dirty  grey-buff  color. 

No.  6.  Sub-soil  of  the  same  old  field,  Mr.  J.  Hurty's  farm,  &c. 
Dried  soil  of  a  dirty-buff  color. 

To  ascertain  the  relative  quantity  of  soluble  matter,  immediately  avail- 
able for  vegetable  nourishment,  contained  in  these  soils,  one  thousand 
grains  of  each  was  digested  for  a  month,  at  the  ordinary  temperature, 
in  a  closely  stopped  bottle,  in  distilled  water  which  had  been  charged 
with  carbonic  acid  under  pressure.  After  filtering  off  the  clear  solu- 
tion it  was  carefully  evaporated  to  dryness,  weighed  and  analyzed.  As 


250 


GEOLOGICAL    RECONNOISSANCE 


the  water  which  irrigated  the  soil  always  contains  dissolved  carbonic 
acid,  which  solution  is  a  principal  solvent  of  the  nutritive  ingredients 
which  the  earth  yields  to  growing  vegetables,  it  is  believed  that  this 
process  shows,  to  some  extent  at  least,  the  comparative  immediate  fertil- 
ity of  the  soils  submitted  to  it. 

The  results  of  the  process,  as  applied  to  the  six  soils  above  described, 
were  as  follows : 

Extracted  from  1,000  grains  by  the  water  charged  with  Carbonic  Acid. 


JNo.  1. 
Virgin 
Soil. 

No.  2. 
Old  field 
Soil. 

No.  3. 

Sub-Soil. 

No.  4. 

Virgin 
Soil. 

No.  5. 
Old  field 
Soil. 

No.  6. 
Su'j-soil. 

Organic  and  Volatile  matters 

0850 

0366 

0  266 

0  900 

0  333 

0  1  fif  i 

Alumina  and   oxides  of    Iron,    and 
Manganese,  and  Phosphates  

.086 

.063 

063 

163 

060 

130 

.797 

.630 

.053 

1  143 

510 

483 

.228 

.200 

111 

228 

159 

089 

.029 

029 

027 

052 

028 

029 

Potash     

037 

035 

032 

077 

035 

019 

Soda         

022 

007 

026 

033 

029 

020 

Silica  

.180 

.286 

.163 

.247 

347 

146 

Soluble  extract  dried  at  212°  F.,grains 

2.229 

1.616 

0.741 

2.843 

1.501 

1.082 

Although,  other  things  being  equal,  the  greater  the  quantity  of  this 
soluble  extract,  within  reasonable  limits,  the  higher  should  we  estimate 
the  immediate  fertility  of  the  soil ;  yet  the  composition  of  this  extract 
must  always  be  considered  in  this  important  estimate.  Thus  an  excess 
of  carbonate  of  lime  and  magnesia,  or  of  Alumina  and  oxides  of  Iron  and 
Manganese  or  Silica,  or  even  of  organic  matters,  might  prove  not  only 
inert  but  injurious  in  their  action  on  growing  plants;  while  there  might 
be  a  deficiency  in  those  indispensable  ingredients  the  alkalies,  even 
where  this  excess  caused  the  whole  weight  of  the  extract  to  be  large. 

These  six  soils,  after  having  been  carefully  air-dried,  were  dried  at 
400°  F.,  and  the  loss  of  weight  noted  as  moisture.  They  were  then 
submitted  for  analysis,  with  the  following  results : 


OF  INDIANA. 


251 


Composition  dried  at  400°  F. 


No.  1. 
Virgin 
Soil. 

No.  2. 
Old  field 
Soil. 

No.  3. 

Sub-Soil. 

No.  4. 
Virgin 
Soil. 

No.  5. 
Old  field 
Soil. 

No.  6. 
Sub-soil. 

Organic  and  Volatile  matters  

4.885 
4.730 

3.350 
4.158 

3.417 
6.030 

6.792 

3.437 

3.156 

2.965 

3.190 

5.165 

|    5.495 

7.060 

8.140 

.715 

.540 

.690 

.345 

295 

470 

.661 

.536 

.741 

.470 

.491 

393 

.220 

.145 

.270 

.095 

130 

170 

.282 

.189 

,226 

.173 

.260 

178 

.067 

.058 

.041 

.067 

•055 

075 

.270 

1.237 

.318 

.147 

.212 

246 

Soda  

.004 

.027 

.095 

.049 

.020 

.061 

Sand  and  Insoluble  Silicates  

85.190 

86.815 

82679 

86.790 

88.165 

87  715 

.011 

.755 

.328 

Total           

100.000 

100.000 

100.000 

100.423 

100.125 

100  604 

Moisture  expelled  at  400°  F 

4675 

4200 

7  100 

4300 

2975 

3  375 

Persons  unaccustomed  to  the  study  of  the  results  of  soil  analysis 
may  be  disappointed  on  seeing  the  relative  small  proportions  of  several 
of  the  essential  ingredients  in  these  soils,  which  may  be  considered 
quite  fertile.  It  may  be  seen  that  in  the  100.  parts  of  the  soil  No.  1, 
dried  at  the  temperature  of  400°  F.,  there  exists  only  0.27  per  cent,  (i. 
e.  a  little  more  than  the  fourth  of  one  per  cent.)  of  Potash,  and  0.282 
per  cent,  (which  is  but  little  more)  of  Phosphoric  Acid; — ingredients 
which  are  amongst  those  so  essentially  necessary  to  vegetable  growth 
that  in  their  absence  no  plant,  however  simple  and  small,  could  be  de- 
veloped. These  quantities  appear  fearfully  minute  when  we  reflect  that 
all  the  crops  we  remove  from  the  land  carry  oft'  more  or  less  of  these 
valuable  substances;  and  that,  ^s  they  cannot  come  back  again  by 
means  of  the  atmosphere,  in  the  form  of  gases  and  vapors,  and  must 
be  restored,  if  restored  at  all,  to  the  soil  in  the  fowii  of  solid  manures, 
the  probability  of  their  final  exhaustion  from  the  laud,  by  our  common 
thoughtless  methods  of  farming,  becomes  unpleasantly  apparent. 

But  when  we  resort  to  figures  we  find  the  danger,  although  a  real 
one,  not  so  imminent  as  at  first  sight  it  seemed  to  be ;  and  these  quanti- 
ties, small  as  they  are  compared  with  the  100.  parts  of  the  soil,  swell  to 
some  magnitude  when  calculated  in  the  large  amount  of  earth  which 
is  found  on  an  acre  of  ground,  taken  only  to  the  depth  of  one  foot. 
Some  expriments  made  on  Lower  Silurian  soils  of  Kentucky,  which 
will  apply  sufficiently  well  to  the  present  instance  to  serve  the  purpose 
of  illustration,  gave  as  the  weight  of  the  dry  earth  on  an  acre  of  land, 
16 


252  GEOLOGICAL   KECONNOLSSANCE 

to  the  depth  of  one  foot,  more  than  three  million  pounds  avoirdupois, 
(3,116,413  80-100  pounds).  Taking  three  million  pounds  then  as  the 
basis  of  our  calculations,  we  find  that  the  0.27  per  cent,  of  Potash  is 
equal  to  eight  thousand  one  hundred  (8,100  fbs)  pounds  per  acre,  in 
each  foot  in  depth  of  the  soil;  and  the  Phosphoric  acid  equal  to  eight 
thousand  four  hundred  and  sixty  pounds  (8,460  R>s) ;  quantities  which, 
although  not  inexhaustible  by  thriftless  husbandry,  may  at  least  give  us 
some  little  time  to  study  the  philosophy  of  agriculture,  and  to  consider 
the  ways  and  means  of  preventing  their  loss  from  their  soil,  or  of  their 
restoration  if  too  much  reduced  by  exhaustive  farming. 

The  evidences  of  the  deterioration  of  the  soil  by  cultivation  may  be 
seen  in  these  analyses;  first  in  the  dimished  quantity  of  soluble  matters 
extracted  by  the  carbonated  water  from  the  soil  of  the  old  field  as  com- 
pared with  that  extracted  from  the  Virgin  soil ;  this  quantity  being 
2.229  grains  from  soil  No.  1,  and  2.843  grains  from  soil  No.  4,  whilst 
it  is  only  1.616  grains  from  soil  No.  2  and  1.501  from  soil  No.  5.  It  is 
shown,  secondly,  in  the  general  analyses  of  these  soils,  especially  in 
comparing  those  of  soils  Nos.  1  and  2 ;  in  the  diminished  quantities  of 
Organic  and  Volatile  matters,  Carbonate  of  Lime,  Magnesia,  Oxide  of 
Manganese,  Phosphoric  and  Sulphuric  Acids,  and  Potash,  and  in  the  in- 
creased proportion  of  Sand  and  Insoluble  Silicates  in  the  soil  of  the  old 
field  as  compared  with  the  Virgin  soil.  The  latter  will  also  be  seen  to 
have  a  greater  power  of  absorbing  and  holding  moisture,  and  being  oi 
darker  color  will  absorb  the  heat  of  the  sun  with  greater  rapidity  than 
the  soil  of  the  old  field ;  a  difference  owing  in  part  to  the  greater  pro- 
portion of  organic  matters  (Humus,  remains  of  decayed  vegetable  matters,) 
which  it  contains,  which  also  enable  it  to  absorb  vapors  and  gases  with 
greater  facility. 

The  differences  are  not  so  well  exhibited  in  the  analyses  of  soils  Nos. 
4  and  &. 

The  set  of  soils  Nos.  1, 2  and  3,  although  containing  a  little  less  Organic 
and  Volatile  matters  than  Nos.  4,  5  and  6,  yet  are  slightly  more  rich  than 
these,  in  the  essential  mineral  element  of  vegetable  food. 

II.— SOILS  OF  THE  UPPER  SILURIAN  FORMATION. 

No.  7.  Surface  soil,  from  an  old  field,  on  James  Clayton's  farm,  three 
miles  west  of  Winchester,  Randolph  county,  Indiana.  Upper  Silurian 
formation.  Noted  for  its  productions  and  for  its  red  color.  Chalybeate 


OP    INDIANA. 


253 


springs  and  Bog  Iron-ore  abundant  around.  The  dried  soil  is  of  a  light 
reddish-brown  color.  P 

No.  8.  Surface  soil,  from  an  old  field,  on  "William  T.  K.  Ross'  farm, 
S.  "W.  half  of  section  14,  township  27  north,  range  7  east,  Wabash 
county,  Indiana.  Upper  Silurian  formation.  The  dried  soil  is  of  a 
yellowish-grey  color. 

No.  9.  Sub-Soil  of  the  next  preceding,  &c.  The  dried  sub-soil  is  of 
a  yellowish-grey  color;  lighter  than  No.  8.  One  thousand  grains  of 
each  of  these  soils  thoroughly  air- dried,  gave,  on  digestion  for  a  month, 
in  water  charged  with  carbonic  acid,  dissolved  materials  as  represented 
in  the  following  table  : 


• 

No.  7. 
Old  field 
Soil. 

No.  8. 
Old  field 
Soil. 

No.  9. 
Sub-Soil 

0.283 
.090 
.377 
.055 
.028 
.023 
.033 
.147 

Organic  and  Volatile  matters    

0.883 
.080 
1.430 
.233 
.073 
.048 
.030 
.216 

0.566 
.098 
1.677 
.122 
.044 
.054 
.008 
.180 

Alumina  and  oxides  of  Iron  and  Manganese,  and  Phosphates  
Carbonate  of  Lime                      

Magnesia                                      

Sulphuric  acid                  .            •  »  

Potash     .                  

Soda           .  .         

Silica          ...        

Extract,  dried  at  200°  F.,  (grains)  

2.993 

2.749 

1.036 

In  the  following  table  is  represented  the  Chemical  Composition  of  these 
three  soils,  dried  at  the  temperature  of  400°  F.: 


No.  7. 
Old  field 
Soil. 

No.  8. 
Old  field 
Soil. 

No.  9. 
Sub-Soil. 

2.430 
4.085 
3.790 
.220 
.644 
.270 
.177 
.084 
.212 
.074 
88.765 

6.331 
1.660 
7.210 
.495 
.537 
.415 
.225 
.059 
.300 

3.740 
3.335 
2.740 
.495 
.490 
.395 
.161 
.059 
.111 
.003 
89.690 

Soda     

Sand  and  Insoluble  Silicates.....  

82.890 

Total                             

100.122 

101.219 

100.751 
2.250 

Moisture  expelled  at  400°  F  

3.450 

2.425 

The  cause  of  the  red  color  of  soil  No.  7  is  found  in  the  considerable 
quantity  of  Peroxide  of  Iron  which  it  contains,  (7.21  per  cent.) ;  and  its 
productiveness  might  have  been  inferred  from  its  proportions  of  Carlo- 


254  GEOLOGICAL    RECONNOISSANCE 

nate  of  Lime,  Magnesia,  Phosphoric  and  Sulphuric  Acids,  and  Potash. 
The  large  amount  of  organic  matters  aid  to  make  it  a  fertile  soil.  Soil 
No.  8,  containing  less  of  these,  as  well  as  of  Potash  and  Phosphoric 
Acid,  will  not  probable  yield  as  abundantly  as  this  does. 

Although  but  a  very  small  proportion  of  oxide  of  Iron  enters  into 
the  composition  of  vegetable  and  animal  bodies  its  presence  in  the  soil, 
in  notable  proportions,  seems  to  be  highly  conducive  to  its  fertility. 
The  oxidation  of  metallic  iron,  in  the  presence  of  air  and  moisture, 
even  its  slow  rusting  in  a  moist  atmosphere,  causes  the  formation  of  a 
small  quantity  of  ammonia,  by  the  union  of  the  Nitrogen  of  the  air 
with  the  Hydrogen  of  the  decomposed  moisture;  and  the  oxide  of  iron 
seems  to  have  an  affinity  for  ammonia,  so  that,  as  has  been  long  known 
to  chemists,  almost  all  samples  of  iron  rust,  or  oxide  of  iron  are  found 
to  contain  more  or  less  of  that  compound.  The  oxide  of  iron  of  the 
red  soils  may  not  only  thus  absorb  this  nutritive  substance  from  the 
atmosphere, — in  which  traces  of  it  are  almost  always  to  be  found — and 
in  this  manner  may  more  strongly  aid  vegetable  growth,  by  furnishing 
a  greater  supply  of  available  Nitrogen  than  a  light-colored  soil,  but  it 
is  found  that  it  also  powerfully  aids  in  the  decomposition  of  dead  ani- 
mal and  vegetable  matters;  resolving  them  speedily,  under  favorable 
circumstances,  into  materials  suitable  for  vegetable  nourishment.  A 
decomposing  animal  or  vegetable  substance  mixed,  in  moist  state,  with 
the  peroxide  of  iron,  (or  the  red  soil  which  contains  it  abundantly,) 
and  kept  at  a  favorable  temperature  for  decomposition,  has  this  process 
greatly  accelerated  by  the  oxygen,  which  is  furnished  to  it  by  the  per- 
oxide; and  when  the  decomposition  is  over,  the  protoxide  of  iron,  re- 
sulting from  this  partial  deoxidation,  soon  recovers  its  oxygen  again  by 
free  exposure  to  the  atmosphere.  In  this  manner,  not  only  may  the 
substances  be  restored  into  those  compounds  which  gave  the  dark  color 
to  vegetable  mould,  (Humus,)  but  a  more  complete  oxidation  may  re- 
sult, and  the  process  of  nitrification,  and  the  production  of  carbonic 
acid  and  water  be  favored  by  the  peroxide  of  iron  in  the  soil. 

The  union  of  organic  matters  with  the  red  oxide  of  iron  changes  it 
to  a  reddish-brown,  or  chocolate-brown  color,  of  greater  or  less  depth 
of  tint.  When  a  soil  is  of  a  pure  red  or  brownish-red,  brick  or  iron- 
color,  it  is  evident  that  it  is  deficient  in  organic  matter,  and  vegetable 
and  animal  manures  may  be  advantageously  applied  to  it. 

Yellow  and  buff  colored  soils  also  frequently  contain  much  peroxide 
of  iron,  in  a  condition  resembling  yellow  ochre,  but  it  is  usually  asso- 
ciated with  more  alumina  than  in  the  old  red  soils,  and  hence  they  may 


OF  INDIANA. 


255 


be  stiffer  and  of  a  more  clayey  nature.     In  soils  Nos.  8  and  9  this  may 
be  to  a  certain  extent  observed. 


ITI._SOILS  FROM  THE  DEVONIAN  FORMATION. 

No.  10.  Virgin  upland  soil,  from  Jacob  Ruddell's  farm,  on  Clarke's 
Grant,  near  Utica,  Clarke  county,  Indiana.  (Devonian  formation.) 
Growth — Beech,  Sugar-Tree,  Black  and  White  Walnut,  Elm,  Ash, 
Cherry  and  Buckeye.  The  dried  soil  is  of  a  light  brown  color. 

No.  11.  Surface  soil  of  an  old  field,  thirty  years  at  least  in  cultiva- 
tion, Jacob  Ruddell's  farm,  &c.  Raises  excellent  wheat,  (25  bushels) ; 
good  corn,  (50  to  55  bushels,)  good  clover  and  potatoes.  Dried  soil  of 
a  light  reddish-brown  color. 

No.  12.  Sub-soil  of  the  next  preceding.  Jacob  Ruddell's  farm,  &c. 
Dried  sub-soil  lighter  colored  and  more  reddish  than  the  preceding. 

No.  13.  Virgin  soil,  from  S.  D.  Irish's  farm,  near  Pendleton,  Madi- 
son county,  Indiana.  (Devonian  formation.)  Growth — Beech,  Sugar- 
Tree,  Ash  and  Black  Walnut.  The  dried  soil  is  of  a  light  umber  color. 

No.  14.  Surface  soil  from  an  old  field,  twenty-eight  years  in  cultiva- 
tion! S.  D.  Irish's  farm,  &c.*  Dried  soil  somewhat  lighter  colored  and 
more  yellowish  than  the  preceding. 

No.  15.  Sub-soil  of  the  old  field,  S.  D.  Irish's  farm,  &c.  The  dried 
sub-soil  resembles  the  next  preceding  in  color. 

One  thousand  grains  of  each  of  these  soils,  digested  for  a  month  in 
water  charged  with  carbonic  acid,  gave  up  to  that  solvent  the  materials 
stated  in  the  following  table : 


No.  10. 
Virgin 
Soil. 

No.  11. 

Old  field 
Soil. 

No.  12. 
Sub-Soil. 

No.  13. 
Virgin 
Soil. 

No.  14. 
Old  field 
Soil. 

No.  15. 
Sub-Soil. 

1.090 

0.383 

0.783 

1.660 

0.733 

0850 

Alumina  and  Oxide  of  Iron  and  Man- 
ganese and  Phosphates 

127 

060 

046 

176 

173 

046 

1.517 

.160 

.596 

1.843 

1.810 

2.896 

Magnesia.      

107 

055 

183 

207 

277 

120 

.033 

.029 

.061 

.050 

.050 

.120 

081 

054 

037 

048 

048 

.035 

Soda  

025 

.073 

.021 

.021 

.068 

Silica  

257 

.280 

.163 

.160 

.180 

.220 

096 

.066 

.114 

.078 

Total  Watery  Extract,  dried  at  200° 

3,333 

1.150 

1.983 

4.165 

3.292 

4.433. 

*The  Devonian  limestone  comes  to  the  surface,  and  bowlders  are  common  in  this  field.. 


256 


GEOLOGICAL  RECONNOISSANCE 


Almost  always  it  is  found  that  the  sub-soil,  when  digested  in  the 
carbonated  water,  gives  up  much  less  soluble  extract  than  the  surface 
soil,  although  the  former  may  be  really  richer  in  most  of  the  essential 
mineral  elements.  But  when  the  sub-soil  contains  more  Carbonate  of 
Lime,  or  as  much  or  more  organic  matters,  it  may,  as  in  the  instance  above 
of  sub-soil  No.  15,  give  up  even  more  soluble  matter  than  the  surface  soil. 
Because  carbonate  of  lime  is  quite  soluble  in  water  containing  carbonic 
acid,  and  because  the  organic  matters  act  as  solvents,  and  aid  in  the  so- 
lution of  other  substances  present  in  the  soil. 

The  chemical  analysis  of  these  soils,  dried  at  400°  F.,  gave  the  follow- 
ing results,  viz : 


No.  10. 
Virgin 
Soil. 

No.  11. 
Old  field 
Soil. 

No.  12. 

Sub-Soil. 

No.  13. 
Virgin 
Soil. 

No.  14. 

Old  field 
Soil. 

No.  15. 
Sub-Soil. 

Organic  and  Volatile  matters  

6.677 

4.095 

2.883 

6.827 

5.849 

5.357 

3.035 

3.785 

3.920 

2.235 

3.435 

5.310 

3015 

3.065 

3.815 

2850 

3.150 

3.700 

.470 

.220 

.320 

.745 

.745 

1.120 

.451 

.205 

.356 

.605 

.594 

.500 

Brown  oxide  of  Manganese  

.390 

.365 

.365 

.240 

.240 

.240 

313 

260 

.276 

197 

.235 

.215 

Sulphuric  acid  

.178 

.075 

.072 

.109 

.067 

.092 

Potash              

.308 

.161 

.142 

.156 

.169 

.331 

Soda        .                    

.073 

.003 

.092 

.043 

.017 

.067 

Sand  and  Insoluble  Silicates   

85.140 

88.380 

88.140 

85.990 

85.365 

82.715 

.003 

.134 

.353 

Total  

100.050 

100.614 

100  381 

100.000 

100.000 

100.000 

Moisture  expelled  at  400°  F  

4.150 

2.950 

2.900 

4.070 

3.875 

4.800 

The  marked  diminution  in  the  quantity  of  the  Carbonate  of  Lime, 
Magnesia,  Phosphoric  and  Sulphuric  Acid,  Potash  and  Soda,  as  well  of 
the  Organic  matters ;  and  the  increased  proportion  of  the  Sand  and  In- 
soluble Silicates,  in  the  soil  of  the  old  field  No.  11,  as  compared  with  the 
virgin  soil  No.  10,  show  clearly  the  deriorating  influence  of  the  thirty 
years  cultivation.  The  much  smaller  quantity  of  soluble  matters  ex- 
tracted by  digestion  in  the  carbonated  waters  from  the  former  soil,  as 
compared  with  the  latter,  exhibits  the  same  fact. 

Calculating  on  the  basis  given  a  few  pages  back,  the  Potash  in  the 
vigin  soil  (0.308  per  cent.)  amount  to  nine  thousand  two  hundred  and 
forty  pounds  (9,240  fibs)  to  the  acre,  in  the  depth  of  one  foot;  that  in 
theoldfild  (0.161  per  cent.)  is  only  equal  to  four  thousand  eight  hun- 
dred and  thirty  pounds  in  the  same  space;  consequently,  if  these  two 
fields  were  originally  similar  in  composition,  and  no  errors  are  made  in 
computation,  as  much  as  four  thousand  four  hundred  and  ten  pounds 


OF   INDIANA.  257 


(4,410  fbs)  of  Potash,  have  been  removed  from  the  superficial  foot  of 
soil,  per  acre,  by  the  thirty  years  cropping.  By  carrying  out  the  calcu- 
tion  to  the  Phosphoric  Acid  it  will  be  seen  also  that  a  difference  of  fif- 
teen hundred  and  ninety  pounds  (1,590  Ibs)  of  this  substance  appears  in 
the  favor  of  the  virgin  soil. 

It  is  not  pretended  that  these  figures  are  exactly  correct;  as  the 
known  difficulties  which  attend  minute  soil  analyses,  the  slight  differ- 
ences in  composition  of  the  soil  which  might  exist  even  in  different 
parts  of  the  same  field,  as  well  the  fact  that  any  small  error  which 
might  occur  in  the  analyses  would  be  very  greatly  multiplied  in  our 
computations,  are  considerations  which  should  prevent  any  dogmatism ; 
yet  these  figures  sufficiently  well  represent  the  fact,  which  has  been 
verified  in  numerous  instances  by  the  author,  in  comparative  analyses 
side  by  side,  of  old  soils  and  virgin  soils,  especially  for  the  Geological 
Survey  of  Kentucky;  (See  introductory  remarks  to  the  Chemical  Re- 
port in  the  forthcoming  fourth  volume  of  Reports  of  Kentucky  Geo- 
logical Survey,)  that  by  the  cultivation  of  the  soil,  according  to  the  or- 
dinary system,  however  skillfully  it  may  have  been  conducted,  the 
essential  elements  of  the  soil  are  gradually  diminished,  if  the  crops  or 
products  are  removed  from  it. 

Most  of  this  valuable  matter  which  is  thus  removed  from  the  soil  is 
carried  off  in  the  vegetable  and  animal  products,  in  which  they  are 
essential  constituents.  It  is  well  known  that  the  ashes  of  plants  and 
grains  contain  these  essential  elements,  and  that  the  bodies  and  bones 
of  animals  could  not  be  developed  without  them.  In  short  we  get  all 
our  Potash  by  the  lixiviation  of  burnt  vegetables,  and  all  our  Phosphorus 
from  the  bones  of  animals,  and  in  which  it  exists  as  Phosphoric  acid, 
combined  with  Lime  and  Magnesia ;  and  all  these  fixed  principals,  as 
well  as  the  Sulphur,  the  Silica,  the  Oxide  of  Iron,  the  Soda,  even  the 
Oxide  of  Manganese,  which  is  said  to  aid  in  giving  the  dark  color  to 
our  hair,  were  originally  derived  from  the  soil;  having  been  constitu- 
ents of  the  primeval  rocks  from  which  soil  has  been  slowly  formed  by 
disintegration.  It  is  fortunate  for  us  that  these  valuable  mineral  sub- 
stances are  almost  universally  diffused — otherwise  plants  would  refuse 
to  grow  and  animals  could  not  exist,  except  on  imported  food,  on  many 
parts  of  the  globe;  even  common  sand  and  white  sand-rock,  iron-ore, 
as  well  as  numerous  varieties  of  limestone,  &c.,  analyzed  by  the  author, 
have  been  always  found  to  yield,  at  least  traces  of,  Potash,  of  Soda,  of 
Phosphorus,  and  of  Sulphur ;  yet  experience,  as  well  as  chemical  analy- 
sis, have  fully  proved  that  even  a  fertile  soil  may  be  so  far  reduced,  by 


258  GEOLOGICAL   RECONNOISSANCE 


thriftless  cropping,  as  no  longer  to  yield  profitable  crops  to  the  hus- 
bandman. 

The  space  allotted  to  this  article  will  not  allow  the  full  quotation  of 
authorities  on  this  important  subject,  but  we  refer  the  reader  to  numer- 
ous writings  and  statistical  reports*  showing  the  diminution  in  the  pro- 
ducts of  arable  land,  even  in  our  new  {States;  we  refer  also  to  the  ex- 
hausted land  of  Virginia  and  northern  Atlantic  border  of  our  conti- 
nent, and  the  sterile  wastes  in  Europe  and  Africa,  which  in  former  ages 
yielded  rich  harvests  of  grain  and  provender. 

No  question  of  greater  importance  to  humanity  can  engage  the  atten- 
tion and  study  of  scientific  agriculturalists,  than  how  to  cultivate  the  soil 
and  enjoy  its  products  without  robbing  it  of  its  essential  elements. 

Returning  to  our  table  of  analysis,  we  observe  that  the  soil  of  the 
old  field,  No.  14,  does  not  appear  any  poorer  than  the  virgin  soil  of  the 
same  locality,  No.  13;  but  noting  the  composition  of  the  subsoil,  which 
may  have  been  turned  up  somewhat  by  the  plow,  it  will  appear  proba- 
ble that  the  original  richness  of  this  may  have  helped  to  sustain  the 
surface  soil  during  its  twenty-eight  years  of  cultivation,  and  to  compen- 
sate somewhat  for  its  losses  in  that  period.  Sub-soil  plowing  in  this 
locality  would  be  beneficial. 

IV._SOILS  FROM  THE  SUB-CARBONIFEROUS  FORMATION. 

No.  16.  Virgin  soil,  from  six  miles  east  of  Corydon,  Harrison  coun- 
ty, Indiana.  (Sub-Carboniferous  formation.)  Timber,  chiefly  Beech 
and  Sugar-Maple.  The  dried  soil  is  of  a  yellowish  light-umber  color. 

No.  17.  Surface  soil  of  an  old  field,  twenty-five  to  thirty  years  in 
cultivation ;  same  locality  as  the  preceding,  &c.  The  dried  soil  is  of  a 
dirty  brownish  buff-color. 

No.  18.  Sub-soil  of  the  old  field,  next  preceding,  &c.  Dried  sub-soil 
slightly  lighter  colored  than  the  preceding. 

Treated  by  digestion  for  a  month  with  water  charged  with  carbonic 
acid,  one  thousand  grains  of  each  of  these  soils,  thoroughly  air-dried, 
gave  up  of  soluble  matters  as  described  in  the  following  table. 

k 

*See  Liebig's  recent  work,  "Letter&on  Modern  Agriculture,"  Klippart  on  the  Wheat  Plant^. 
and  Patent  Office  Reports,  £c. 


OF  INDIANA. 


259 


Extracted  from  1,000  grains  by  water  charged  with  Carb&nie  Acid. 


No.  16. 
Virgin 
Soil. 

No.  17. 
Old  field 
Soil. 

No.  18. 
Sub-Soil. 

Organie  and  Volatile  matters     »  

0  833 

0  733 

0  335 

Alumina  and  oxides  of  Iron  and  Manganese,  and  Phosphates  

.157 
766 

.073 
727 

.090 
627 

077 

094 

144 

039 

033 

027 

Potash       ..  

.069 

064 

031 

Soda    

.013 

016 

021 

Silica  »  

.163 

.163 

296. 

Extract  dried  at  212°  F     grains            ..                      .... 

2  117 

1  903 

1  569 

The  Chemical  Composition  of  these  three  soils,  dried  at  400°  F.,  is  rep- 
resented in  the  following  table : 


No.  15. 
Virgin 
Soil. 

No.  17. 

Old  field 
Soil. 

No.  18. 
Sub-SoiL 

4.757 

4.731 

3.352 

Alumina  

2.210 

3  185 

3  760> 

Oxide  of  Iron  

2565 

3  065 

3315 

Carbonate  of  Lime  „  »  .. 

.370 

385 

38f> 

31a<rnesia       •  >•  •  

.461 

452 

451 

Brown  oxide  of  Manganese  .... 

.165 

290 

290° 

.212 

261 

211 

.084 

084 

067 

Potash  

.168 

145 

174 

Soda  ;  

.054 

.038 

003. 

Sand  and  Insoluble  Silicates  ^.  

87.240 

86265 

87  615 

1.714 

1.099 

377 

Total  

100.000 

100  000 

100  00ft 

Moisture  expelled  at  400°  F  

3  3°5 

3  300 

3  050* 

V.— SOILS  FROM  THE  COAL  MEASURES  GROUP. 

No.  19.  Virgin  soil,  in  a  grove  adjoining  a  prairie ;  Wagner's- 
Grove,  "Warren  county,  Indiana.  (Coal  Measures.)  Growth — Bur 
Oak,  Hickory,  Grey  Ash,  Walnut,  Buckeye,  Red  Elm,  Cherry,  Sassa- 
fras, Red  Bud,  Hazel  and  Elder  bushes.  Dried  soil  of  a  very  dark 
mouse  color,  or  yellowish-black. 

No.  20.  Prairie  surface  soil  from  rising  ground,  about  twenty-five 
years  in  cultivation,  near  Wagner's  Grove,  Warren  county,  Indiana. 
(Coal  Measures.)  Dried  soil  mouse-colored,  a  little  lighter  than  the 
preceding. 


260 


GEOLOGICAL    RECONNOISSANCE. 


No.  21.  Prairie  surface  soil,  from  a  bottom  near  Wagners's  Grove, 
&c.  Dried  soil  darker-colored  than  the  two  preceding;  almost  black. 

No.  22.  Prairie  sub-soil,  at  one  foot  depth,  near  Wagner's  Grove, 
&c.  Dried  soil  of  a  dark  ash-grey  color. 

No.  23.  Prairie  sub-soil,  at  two  feet  depth,  near  Wagner's  Grove, 
&c.  Dried  soil  of  an  ashey-grey  color,  lighter  and  more  yellowish  than 
the  preceding. 

"No.  24.  Prairie  sub-soil,  at  three  feet  below  the  surface,  near  Wag- 
ner's Grove,  &c.  Dried  soil  of  a  dark  ash-grey  color;  a  little  darker 
than  the  two  preceding. 

The  soluble  matters,  extracted  from  a  thousand  grains  each  of  these 
soils,  thoroughly  air-dried,  by  digestion  for  a  month  in  water  charged 
with  carbonic  acid,  are  stated  in  the  following  table,  viz : 


No.  19. 
Virgin 
soil  in 
grove. 

No.  20. 
Prairie 
soil  in 
old  field. 

No.  21. 
Bottom 
Prairie 
soil. 

No.  22. 

Sub-Soil, 
at  1  foot. 

No.  23. 
Sub-Soil, 
at  2  feet. 

No.  24. 
Sub-Soil, 
at  3  feet. 

Organic  and  Volatile  matters  

1  266 

0983 

1  127 

0800 

0  500 

0  550 

Alumina  and  oxides  of  Iron  and  Man- 
ganese, and  Phosphates  

603 

323 

090 

247 

073 

130 

Carbonate  of  Lime  

1  793 

1  477 

1  610 

641 

410 

1  127 

Magnesia.,  

380 

383 

321 

144 

100 

297 

Sulphuric  acid  

079 

113 

107 

104 

129 

068 

Potash  

064 

147 

109 

145 

177 

060 

Soda  

122 

132 

209 

187 

037 

161 

Silica  

380 

420 

337 

330 

247 

347 

Loss  

307 

227 

Extract,  dried  at  212°  F.,  grains  

4.687 

3.978 

4.217 

2.598 

1.900 

2.670 

The   Chemical  Composition  of  these  soils,  dried  at  440°  F.,  is  repre- 
sented as  follows : 


No.  19. 
Virgin  soil, 
grove  near 
Prairie. 

No.  20. 
Prairie  soil, 
rising  gr'd, 
old  field. 

No.  21. 
Prairie 
soil,  bot- 
tom. 

No.  22. 
Prairie 
Sub-Soil, 
at  1  foot. 

No.  23. 
Prairie 
Sub-Soil, 
at  2  feet. 

No.  24. 
Prairie 

Sub-Soil, 
at  3  feet. 

Organic  and  Volatile  matters... 
Alumina  

8.286 
2010 

5.473 
2610 

8.851 
4335 

2,805 
1  810 

2.654 
2460 

2.931 

2  985 

Oxide  of  Iron  

3365 

2  740 

3  315 

2  150 

3  765 

4  540 

Carbonate  of  Lime    .         .. 

945 

645 

1  545 

270 

395 

895 

.753 

.795 

.878 

.519 

.599 

.901 

Brown  oxide  of  Manganese  
Phosphoric  acid  

.215 
.255 

.115 
.198 

.190 
.237 

.090 
.194 

.215 
.161 

.190 
.214 

Sulphuric  acid  

.153 

.100 

127 

.062 

.084 

.050 

Potash                 

256 

125 

309 

235 

272 

360 

Soda  

.038 

086 

.041 

.036 

.056 

Sand  and  Insoluble  Silicates.... 

82.615 
1.109 

86.565 
.634 

80.515 

91.490 
334 

88.065 
1.294 

86.066 
.812 

Total  

100.000 

100.000 

100  388 

100  000 

100.000 

100.000 

Moisture  expelled  at  400°  F  

7.375 

5.000 

7.075 

2.850 

2.975 

4.475 

OF    INDIANA.  261 


The  rich  prairie  soils,  NOB.  19  and  22,  have  a  remarkably  large  pro- 
portion of  organic  and  volatile  matters  in  their  composition,  to  which 
they  perhaps  owe  their  high  hygroscopic  power;  more  than  7  per  cent* 
of  moisture  being  retained  by  these  soils  after  being  thoroughly  dried 
in  a  room  daily  heated  with  a  stove.  The  bottom  land  contains  more 
Alumina,  Carbonate  of  Lime,  Magnesia  and  Potash  than  the  soil  from 
the  grove,  and  both  are  superior  in  richness  to  that  from  the  rising 
ground;  which  contains  more  Sand  and  Insoluble  Silicates,  less  ^Organic 
Matters,  and  less  Lime,  Magnesia,  Oxide  of  Manganese,  Phosphoric  and 
Sulphuric  Acid,  Potash  and  Soda  than  these.  These  essential  mineral 
elements  of  vegetable  nourishment  being  abundant  in  this,  with  plenty 
of  organic  matters  to  aid  in  their  solution;  these  soils  ought  to  be  quite 
productive. 

The  sub-soil  seems  to  be  poorer  at  the  depth  of  one  foot  than  at  a 
greater  depth ;  the  valuable  mineral  ingredients  increasing  in  propor- 
tion as  we  descended  from  that  depth  to  three  feet  below  the  surface. 
Whether  this  increase  continued  still  further  as  we  descend  is  of  course 
not  ascertained. 

No.  25.  Virgin  soil,  from  Mr.  Delamater's  farm,  close  to  Dover, 
Martin  county,  Indiana.  (Coal  Measures.)  Upland  ;  near  the  locality 
of  natural  paints,  a  coal  seam,  fire-clay  and  iron  ore.  Timber — Chest- 
nut, Oak,  Poplar,  Hickory,  some  Beech  and  Sugar-Tree,  White  and 
Black  Walnut,  Sycamore,  Red  Bud,  Pawpaw  and  Persimmon.  The 
dried  soil  is  of  an  umber-grey  color. 

No.  26.  Surface  soil,  thirteen  years  in  cultivation ;  Mr.  Delamater's 
farm,  &c.  Dried  soil  of  a  dirty  grey-buff  color. 

No.  27.     Sub-soil  of  the  next  preceding.     Dried  soil  of  a  buff  color. 

No.  28.  Virgin  soil,  from  Mr.  J.  D.  Williams'  land,  south-east  quar- 
ter of  section  14,  township  2  north,  range  8  west.  White  River  bot- 
tom, Knox  county,  Indiana.  (Sandstone  near.)  Timber — Black  Wal- 
nut, Burr  Oak,  Spanish  Oak,  Elm  and  Sassafras.  (Coal  Measures.)  The 
dried  soil  is  of  an  umber  color. 

No.  29.  Surface  soil,  twenty  years  or  more  in  cultivation,  Mr.  J.  D. 
Williams'  farm,  &c.  Produces  from  sixty  to  one  hundred  bushels  of 
corn,  and  twelve  to  thirty-nine  bushels  of  wheat  to  the  acre ;  was  three 
years  in  clover  and  produces  it  well.  Dried  soil  umber-colored;  a 
shade  lighter  than  the  preceding. 

No.  30.  Sub-soil  of  the  next  preceding,  &c.  Dried  soil  lighter  col- 
ored and  more  yellowish  than  the  preceding. 

The  soluble  matters  entrusted  by  digestion  in  water  charged  with 


262 


GEOLOGICAL    RECONNAISSANCE 


carbonic  acid,  one  thousand  grains  of  each  of  these  soils,  after  thorough 
drying  in  the  air  of  a  room  warmed  with  a  stove,  are  stated  in  the  fol- 
lowing table : 


No.  25. 
Virgin 
Soil. 

No.  26. 
Old  field. 

No.  27. 
Sub-Soil. 

No.  28. 
Virgin 
Soil. 

No.  29. 
Old  field. 

No.  30. 

Sub-Soil. 

Organic  and  Volatile  matters  

0516 

0  776 

0233 

1  163 

0483 

0  376 

Alumina  and  oxide  of  Iron  and  Man- 
ganese, and  Phosphates  

263 

263 

057 

230 

096 

033 

Carbonate  of  Lime  

1  643 

1  593 

110 

3  177 

1  177 

827 

Magnesia..  .          

223 

233 

220 

311 

155 

167 

039 

033 

027 

033 

027 

033 

Potash  

106 

.087 

103 

056 

1029 

023 

Soda  A  

028 

049 

037 

048 

016 

025 

Silica  

263 

320 

180 

313 

230 

230 

036 

012 

194 

• 

Extract  dried  at  212°  F.r  grains  

3.117 

3,366 

0.967 

5.331 

2.400 

1.714 

The  Chemical  Composition  of  these  six  soils,  dried  at  400°  F.,  is  as  fol- 
lows : 


No.  25. 

Virgin 
Soil. 

No.  26. 

Old  field. 

No.  27. 

Sub-Soil. 

No.  28. 
Virgin 
Soil. 

No.  29. 
Old  field. 

No.  30. 
Sub-Soil. 

5  814 

3.851 

3032 

13443 

7917 

5  348 

2515 

3.765 

5  865 

6565 

5265 

6  665 

2  515 

2965 

5240 

5405 

5  190 

5  590 

520 

.370 

120 

1  670 

1  145 

820 

596 

567 

668 

1  021 

936 

852 

Brown  oxide  of  Manganese  

230 

295 

145 

345 

370 

295 

Phosphoric  acid  

162 

194 

212 

461 

327 

320 

Sulphuric  acid  

076 

056 

056 

145 

093 

067 

Potash  

110 

135 

236 

381 

285 

328 

Soda  

*016 

038 

058 

065 

065 

056 

Sand  and  Insoluble  Silicates 

87590 

87  315 

84490 

71  690 

78  840 

79  790 

Loss  .        .    . 

449 

Total  

100  144 

100  000 

100  122 

101  191 

100  433 

100  131 

Moisture  expelled  at  400°  F  

3.250 

3.015 

4.525 

9.250 

6.225 

6.050 

In  the  soil  of  the  field  which  has  been  in  cultivation  for  thirteen 
years,  (No.  26)  we  notice  the  influence  of  the  sub -soil  in  sustaining  the 
surface  soil  under  cultivation;  for  whilst  the  proportions  of  Carbonate 
of  Lime,  Magnesia,  Sulphuric  Acid  and  Organic  matters  are  less  in  this 
than  in  the  Virgin  soil,  the  Potash  and  Phosphoric  acid  seem  to  have 
been  increased  by  the  admixture  of  it  with  the  sub-soil  by  the  opera- 
tions of  the  plow. 

The  three  soils  from  White  River  bottom,  Nos.  28,  29  and  30,  are  of 
extraordinary  richness  ;  riot  o-aly  is  the  proportion  of  Organic  and  Vol- 


OF    INDIANA. 


263 


•atile  matters  enormous,  especially  in  the  virgin  soil,  (13.443  per  cent.,) 
but  they  contain  more  than  the  usual  quantities  of  Carbonate  of  Lime, 
Magnesia,  Phosphoric  and  Sulphuric  Acids,  and  Potash,  and  exhibit  a 
very  high  hygroscopic  power.  If  these  lands  are  well  drained  they  must 
certainly  be  very  productive. 

It  is  instructive  to  observe,  even  in  this  rich  land,  the  influence  of 
ordinary  cultivation  in  producing  the  gradual  deterioration  of  the  soil. 
On  comparing  the  two  neighboring  columns  of  figures  it  will  be  seen 
that  all  these  essential  ingredients  of  the  soil,  above  stated,  are  in  di- 
minished proportion  in  the  soils  of  the  old  field,  whilst  the  Sand  and 
Insoluble  Silicates  are  in  larger  amounts. 

The  sub-soil,  although  quite  rich,  is  not  more  so  than  the  virgin  sur- 
face soil. 

VL— SOILS  FROM  THE  QUATERNARY  FORMATION. 

No.  31.  Virgin  soil,  from  Mr.  J.  D.  G.  Nelson's  farm,  near  Fort 
Wayne,  Allen  county,  Indiana.  Second  Maumee  bottom.  Timber — 
Beech,  Sugar-Maple,  some  Poplar  and  Black  "Walnut.  (Drift  Period.) 
The  dried  soil  is  of  an  umber  color;  containing  much  sand. 

No.  32.  Surface  soil,  thirty  years  in  cultivation.  J.  D.  G.  Nelson's 
farm,  &c.  He  found  Plaster  of  Paris  wonderfully  to  improve  his  clover 
crop.  Raises  fair  wheat  and  corn  crops.  Dried  soil  of  a  brownish-grey 
color,  containing  more  sand  than  the  preceding. 

No.  33.  Sub-soil  of  the  preceding,  &c.  Dried  soil  brownish-buff 
color,  principally  impure  sand. 

The  digestion,  in  water  charged  with  carbonic  acid,  of  these  soils, 
after  being  thoroughly  air- dried,  gave  the  following  results — to  one 
thousand  grains  of  each,  viz  : 


.No.  31. 
Virgin 
Soil. 

Wo.  32. 

Old  field 
Soil. 

No.  82. 
Sub-Soil. 

Organic  and  Volatile  matters        .                        

0650 

0666 

0410 

Alumina  and  oxides  of  Iron  and  Manganese,  and  Phosphates  
Carbonate  of  Lime  

.196 
860 

.113 
.793 

.097 
693 

Alasnesia  

230 

177 

076 

025 

.022 

022 

Potash    

042 

.032 

027 

Soda   

.011 

.009 

.021 

Silica   

.143 

.130 

.130 

.126 

Extract  dried  at  212°  F    grains  .                          

2283 

1  882 

1  476 

264  GEOLOGICAL  RECONNOISSANCE 

These  porous,  calcareous,  sandy  soils  are  more  productive  than  their 
chemical  composition  would  seem  to  indicate,  (see  following  table  of 
their  composition,)  not  only  because  the  essential  ingredients  are  re- 
turned with  but  small  force  by  the  sand,  and  hence  are  easily  dissolved 
and  appropriated  by  growing  vegetables;  but  also  because  of  the  free- 
dom with  which  atmospheric  air  penetrates  them,  bringing  carbonic 
acid,  gas,  vapor  of  water  and  ammonia  to  the  vegetable  roots,  and  favor- 
ing oxidation  and  nitrification. 

In  some  recent  remarks  of  M.  Boussaugault,  made  to  the  French 
Academy,  in  commendation  of  an  elaborate  work,  by  M.  Barral,  in  four 
volumes,  on  the  subject  of  Drainage •,  Irrigation  and  Liquid  Manures,  he 
gives  to  that  author  the  credit  of  having  been  the  first  to  discover  that 
the  water  which  flows  out  of  the  drains,  of  land,  contain  a  quantity  of 
nitric  acid,  greater  in  proportion  as  the  drainage  is  more  perfect,  the 
soil  more  aerated,  and  the  manure  more  abundant;  from  which  it  is 
necessary  to  conclude,  says  that  distinguished  chemist,  "that  the  prin- 
cipal effect  of  drainage  is  to  determine  oxidation,  the  transformation 
into  nitrate,  of  the  nitrogenous  principles  of  the  air  and  of  the  ma- 
nures." The  free  penetration  of  air  in  the  moist,  sandy  soil  may  pro- 
duce a  similar  result. 

It  has  been  ascertained  by  the  application  of  the  flame  of  a  candle  to 
the  mouth  of  drains  in  the  summer  time  that  a  continual  current  of 
air  sets  in  through  them  to  rise  through  the  heated  soil.  Doubtless  in 
winter  the  heavier  cold  air  above  penetrates  downwards  through  the 
soil  and  flows  outwards  from  the  mouths  of  the  drains. 

The  crops  on  these  soils  may  also  be  benefitted  by  the  ease  with  which 
water  penetrates  through  them,  carrying,  perhaps,  undor  favorable  cir- 
cumstances, dissolved  nutritive  materials,  by  capillary  attraction,  from 
other  neighboring  localities  or  from  a  richer  sub- soil.  But  yet  they 
cannot  be  classed  as  very  rich  or  durable  soils,  per  se ;  and  would  re- 
quire the  careful  husbanding  of  manures. 


OF  INDIANA. 


265 


Their  Chemical  Composition,  dried  at  400°  F.,  is  as  follows  : 


No.  31. 
Virgin 
Soil. 

No.  32. 
Old  field 
Soil. 

No.  33. 
Sub-Soil. 

Organic  End  Volatile  matters  

3  829 

1  667 

0856 

1  410 

1  535 

1  187 

1  160 

1  360 

1  360 

Carbonate  of  Lime  

515 

490 

415 

Magnesia           

312 

269 

312 

140 

165 

165 

217 

166 

158 

.066 

032 

032 

Potash  

.067 

058 

'042 

g0(ja                                                   

006 

032 

005 

Sand  and  Insoluble  Silicates  

92.365 

94960 

96  140 

Total             

100087 

100  734 

100  672 

Moisture  expelled  at  400°  F  

2  725 

1  050 

0  725 

The  Organic  matters,  Carbonate  of  Lime,  Magnesia,  Phosphoric  and 
Sulphuric  Acids,  and  Potash  are  all  in  smaller  quantities  in  the  soil  of 
the  old  field  than  in  the  virgin  soil ;  but  the  sub-soil  contains  still  less 
of  these  essential  ingredients.  The  hygroscopic  properties  of  these  soils 
are  but  low. 


266 


GEOLOGICAL   RECONNOISSANCE 


TABLE  I.—  SOILS  FROM  THE  LOWER  SILURIAN  FORMATION. 

REMARKS. 

•73          ^3 
'o          'w 
«a          «c 

.  T3            .  -« 

pJ  'S  2  =5  "S  .2 

•5  «  <S  '3  "  <S 

a>  73  _    oo  rH,  _ 

O  *w  'S  S3  '«  "o 
•-<«  cp  .&«  « 

.J5  2  *§  .«  2  ^ 
>•  o  02  f>  o  02 

TABLE  II.—  SOILS  FROM  THE  UPPER  SILURIAN  FORMATION. 

Old  field  soil. 
Old  field  soil. 
Sub-soil  of  old  field. 

1 

•ajBO 
-U!S   s^ntos 
-ai  put?  pu«g 

O  US  O5  O  vO  iO 

C5  r-t  t-  C5  CD  rH 
r-t  CO  O  t>;  rH  f; 

»o  co  c<i  o  od  t>- 

00  CO  CO  CO  SO  00 

§i§ 

QO  CD  t^ 

CM'  cs  co 

OO  00  00 

•upog 

"jfl  t~-  to  Oi  O  i—  < 

§<M  C5  ^  (M  CD 
O  O  O  0  0 

•   CO   Tfl 

:  o  r- 

:oo 
:  o  o 

0 

•qstrioa; 

O  I—  00  I—  CM  CO 

f-  CO  rH  «!t<  i—  1  -^ 

(M  (M  00  r-  !M  (N  j 

O  rH  CM 
O  rH  rH 
CO  rH  CM 

O 

O 

•piois  ounqdjng 

l^  00  i-i  I—  O  O 

CO  O  ^  CO  O  t— 

o  o  o  o  o  o 

O5  O5  Tt< 

§§§ 

0  ' 

0 

PIOB  ouoqdsoqj 

CM  O5  CD  CO  O  X) 

oo  co  CM  t-  CD  r^- 

CM  i-t  CM  1-1  CM  -H 

«O  i—  i  l>. 
SSrH 

O 

O 

•8S8UT:3UBJ\[ 

jo  apixo  uMoag; 

O  >O  O  iO  O  O 
CM  -^  !>•  O5  CO  t>- 

CM  i-H  C^;  O  rH  i—i 

WS  iO  O 

T-H  as  i>- 

TH  CO  CM 
O 

CO  Oi  ^ 
O  ^  CD 
O 

O 

•tnS9u3TJ]\[ 

t—  i  cD  «—  i  O  i—  i  CO 

CD  lO  t—  "^  "^  CO 

•erair[ 
jo  a^uoqjuo 

U3  O  O  O  iO  O 
i-i  •*  Cl  "*  OS  t^ 
I—  O  CD  CO  <M  Tf 

»a  co  o 

05  05  CM 
•*  ^  CM 
O  ' 

0 

•uoai  jo  optxQ 

gg§ 

O5  »"•  *  r-t 

•*rfli*ob 

CT>  O  "*i 

23§ 

CM  t-;  t^ 
t-'  CM  CO 

"Buirantv 

0  CO  0  "*.  w.  ". 
co  o  co  o  b-  co 

t^  T-l  O 

-*  Tji  CD' 

0  uo  0 
CD  CO  00 
CD  CO  O 
rH  CO  ^ 

saawtjra  atp^lQA 
PUB  OTU^SJO 

to  o  i~-  CM  i>-  CD 

OO  >O  i—  i  O5  CO  O 
00  CO  -<tl  t-  •*  r-  1 

CO  -^  CO 
CO  t—  -^ 

CD  CO*  CO' 

•*  CO  CO  O  CO  CC 

•aa^BM. 
piotj  omoqjtJD 

A'qsuiiuSoOO'l 
uiojjpaiotj.il  x[j 

Ci  CD  rH  CO  l—  1  CM 
CM  i—  1  "^  Tfi  O  OO 
CM  CD  t-  00  iO  O 

CO  O5  CD 
O5  Ttl  CO 

O5  t~-  O 
CM  CM  r-«' 

CM  --i  O  <M  ri  rH 

•ean}stoj\[ 

O  O  O  O  O  O 
CD  CM  i—  i  CO  OS  CO 

O  O  O 
O  CM  iO 
Tt<  Th  CM 

co  CM'  CM' 

i** 

Ci  yj  !K 
•§  «t  08 

C  X!  rO 

5  =S  eS 
fS^^ 

•^  Tti  t-  "*  CM  CO 

COUNTY. 

cs  a  G  a  e  c 

O  O  0  0  0  O 

fl  S3  S3  C  a  C 

U>^PU>t3t> 

•jaoda.1  ui  'Ojj 

rH  CM  CO  -^  O  CO 

t-  CO  OS 

OP  INDIANA. 


267 


REMARKS. 

1  ^  2  'i  2  2 

a  f<3  'o  c  *«  "S 

|  f_  r^  X5  ^  i-Q  ^5 

Virgin  soil. 
Old  field  soil. 
Sub-soil  of  old  field. 

•saitjotjig  o|qn 

®  00  ®  ®  CD  2 

O  tO  O 
^  CO  r-H 
CN  (M  CO 

-losuj  pu«  putsg 

O  CO  CC  O  »O  iM 

GO  GO  GO  GO  00  CO 

^ 

t~  CD  t^ 

00  00  CO 

:  r- 

CO  CO  CN  CO  t^  t- 

t^  O  Ci  •*  T-H  CD 
O  O  O  O  O  O 

f-\ 

o 

•ni  oo  co 

O 

S 

o 

g 

•tTStnO,T 

OO  T-I  CN  CO  O5  T-H 
O  CO  -^  tO  CD  CO 

CO  •-!  T-H  T-H  T-H  CO 

i    2 

oo  o  ** 

CO   Tp   l^ 

hH 

EH 

O 

o 

<1 

^ 

'PTOT?  ounqdincj 

00  0  C>j  C5  I-  CNJ 

PH 

00  CO  CD 
000 

f^ 

& 

o 

02 
p 

o 

O 

PH 

£ 

piot?  ouoqdsoq<j 

CO  O  CD  t-»  to  CD 
i-H  CO  t—  C5  CO  T—  i 
CO  (N  (M  T-H  CM  !^ 

d 

o 
p^ 
S 

r-i  CD  T- 
CN  CN  CN 

d    * 

a 
§ 

•asauBSuuj^ 
jo  aptxo  uAUug 

O  O  O  O  O  O 
CO  CO  CO  -M  <M  CN 

d 

PH 

hH 

1 

o  o  o 

CO  O^  O5 

r-^  CN  CN 

d 

£ 

•tU68uS« 

S8SSS8 

*<*<  (N  CO  CO  tO  tO 

S 

r-  CN  T-H 

1 

o 

^ 

Q 

0 

s 

•emri 

o  o  d  to  to  >c 

pq 

111 

o 
M 

jo  ajtraoquio 

d  *  '  *  ',_• 

p 

OQ 

o 

r^ 
w 
H 

tO  tO  to  O  O  O 

T-H  CO  I-H  IO  »O  O 

O  O  CO  CO  T-I  t- 
CO  CO  CO  CN  CO  CO* 

S 

0 
ftj 

to  to  iO 
O  O  CO 

c-4  co'  co' 

i 

tO  to  O  to  O  O 
CO  CO  CN  CO  CO  T-H 
O  t>-  O5  CN  Tf  CO 

(-H 

S 

O  O  C5 
r-400   CO 
CN  rH  t- 

1 

CO  CO  CO  CN  CO  to 

OQ 

uJ 

CHCO  CO 

i—  i 

U 

•aa^tjui  aip^A 

t~»  to  co  t^»  c^  t>- 

t>-  Ci  CC  (M  rt<  tO 

CD  O  CC  GO  OO  CO 

n 

o 

l^   r-i  CN 

10  co  to 

t»  t—  CO 

% 

W 

put?  oiutjSaQ 

CO  "*  CN  CO  tO  tO 

02 

rt^^CO 

h3 

CD 

PIOTJ  omoqjBo 

CO  O  CO  iO  <M  CO 
CO  O  00  CO  C5  CO 
CO  T-H  O5  T—  (  CN  Tf 

^> 

t^  CO  C5 
r-H  0  CD 
r-H  05  10 

5 

EH 

caoaj  pa^otja'jx^ 

CO  T-H  T-H  -^i  CO  rji 

M 
M 

CNrn'rH' 

»  J  :       ,  - 

•aan^stO]\[ 

O  O  O  O  to  O 
tO  to  0  t^  t--  § 
T-H  cs  os  O  CO  00 

•t  CN  <N  ^  co'  TJ? 

S 

S 

H 

CN  O  to 

co'  co*  co 

N 

H 

•x, 

1 

:  :  :  c  a  c 
*  £  *  J  J  J 

Harrison...  . 
Harrison...  . 
Harrison...  , 

•^aodaa  ui  -o  vr 

O  T-H  CN  CO  TJ<  10 

CO  t-  00 

* 

17 


268 


GEOLOGICAL  RKCONNOISSANCE. 


fc 
o 

§ 


S  FROM  THE  COAL  MEASURES  FO 


TABLE  V.—  SO 


ijTg  ojqn 
pun  purcg 


-  « 

g  *0  ri  <N  CO         2 

"* 


^  .      ,_  , 

d  -3  fl  .2  .2  .2  fl  co  '3  fl  'S  '3 
'3o<c  'So.S  .ft  .i  'So"-1  "'So^  ? 

^ 


lOOiOOOCOOOOOO 


OOOO 

cii-iOios 


•USTTJOJ 


piot?  ouoqdsoqj 


[0  epixo  UM.OJJI 


ptot? 


^co»Or-icooi-o 


CDiOOSiOCNOOOCOi-iiOQO 


rHi-Hr-jOOOOOOr-jO 

d 


o 
i 


jo 


jo 


CCIOQOO5O5'—  l«Dt>-OOr-<C 
10  05  t-  T-H-OS  0  OS  0  CO  (M  CO  0 
O51OVOOOC 


t^  t»  00  U3  t-O 

d 


OOOOOOOOO 
I^O5Oi(Mt^C<Jt^-*<M 
C^ICOCOiOCOT—  I«OT—  iCO 


O  O  1C  O  O  vC  iC  i-C 
rHi— ICOi— ICOOOi— ICC 
O  CO  CO  CO  "^  OS  »C  t> 


COrHlOTfr-(^^-ifMCOt^ 
QOt—  »OOlOCOr—  ItOCOrtli—  ( 
(M^GOC»COO500GOO^O5 

co  »d  od  <r4  <M*  co*  ic  co  co  co  t^ 


ATION. 


FO 


SOILS  FROM  THE  QUATERNAR 


TABLE 


Virgin  soil. 
Old  field  soil. 
Sub-soil  of  old  field 


000 

CD  CD  -^ 
CO  O5  rH 


l^  00  <M 

SO   Tf< 
O  0 

o' 


c^  c^ 

CO  CO 

o  o 


CM  C5  <T4 
r-<  CO  <-l 

CO  C^  CO 

o* 


«0  0  1C 

rH  O5  T—  ( 
0  -^  ^ 
O* 


o  o  o 

O  CO  CO 
r-    CO  CO 


O  O  t^ 

ri  CO  00 
"*  O'r- 


(M  CO  W3 

oecoo 


<M_  C 

C<"  r-   i-* 


iC  O  O 
£g£ 

<M'  r-J  o 


[REPORT 


ON 


THE  DISTRIBUTION 


OF  THE  GEOLOGICAL  STRATA  IN  THE 


COAL   MEASURES 


OF 


BY  PROF.  LEO   LESQUEREUX. 


INTRODUCTORY  LETTER. 


COLUMBUS,  OHIO,  February  5,  1861. 


Prof.  Eiehard  Owen: 


DEAR  SIR: — According  to  the  directions  of  Dr.  D.  Dale  Owen,  I  was 
charged  last  spring  to  examine,  with  your  kind  assistance,  a  part  of  the 
Coal  Measures  exposed  in  each  of  the  counties  comprised  within  the 
limits  of  the  coal  field  of  Indiana.  The  purpose  of  this  examination 
and  the  manner  in  which  it  was  performed,  is  briefly  stated  in  the  be- 
ginning of  the  accompanying  report. 

By  the  death,  so  universally  and  so  deeply  lamented,  of  your  brother, 
I  have  now  to  present  you  this  report,  which  contains  the  result  of  five 
weeks  of  explorations  in  the  coal  fields  of  Indiana.  In  doing  it  per- 
mit me  to  publicly  acknowledge  my  obligations  to  you  for  friendly  and 
most  valuable  services  received  during  my  Geological  tour,  and  also  the 
high  regard  with  which  I  am,  sir,  most  sincerely  yours, 

LEO  LESQUEREUX. 


REPORT. 


L— INTRODUCTORY  REMARKS. 

Before  entering  into  the  examination  of  the  Coal  Measures  of  Indi- 
ana, I  have  to  mention,  in  a  few  words,  the  purpose  of  the  explora- 
tions which  I  had  under  my  charge,  the  manner  in  which  they  have 
been  performed,  and  the  benefit  which  may  result  for  the  people  at 
large  from  the  Geological  data  which  have  been  collected  and  are  ex- 
posed in  this  report. 

The  director  of  the  Geological  State  Survey  of  Indiana,  my  lamented 
and  much  respected  friend,  Dr.  D.  Dale  Owen,  thought  advisable  to  di- 
rect, as  a  preliminary  step  to  a  future  detailed  survey,  a  general  recon- 
noissance  of  the  distribution  of  the  coal  strata  of  the  State,  in  order  to 
ascertain,  if  possible,  the  number  and  position  of  beds  of  coal  proba- 
bly attainable  and  workable  in  every  one  of  the  counties  included  with- 
in the  limits  of  the  coal  fields  of  Indiana.* 

Such  a  geological  reconnoissance  can  be  pursued  in  two  ways :  1st. 
By  a  stratigraphical  survey,  in  following  the  dip  or  inclination  of  the 
strata,  as  well  as  the  exposure  of  the  rocks  will  permit,  and  drawing 
from  their  general  inclination  conclusions  about  the  horizontal  position 
which  the  strata  ought  to  occupy  at  a  given  place.  A  survey  of  this 
kind  demands  a  great  deal  of  time,  and  is  only  practicable  in  detailed 
explorations.  In  a  country,  like  Indiana  and  Illinois,  where  the  rocks 

*It  is  perhaps  unnecessary  to  remark  that  under  the  name  of  Indiana  coal  fields  I  truly 
mean  the  area,  belonging  to  Indiana,  of  the  coal  basin  covering  the  greatest  part  of  the 
State  of  Illinois,  the  south-western  corner  of  Indiana,  and  a  north-western  part  of  Ken- 
tucky. Isolated  or  connected  spurs  of  this  basin  extend  to  the  West  and  South,  through 
Iowa,  Missouri,  Kansas,  Arkansas,  Texas  and  even  New  Mexico.  I  consider  this  western 
coal  basin  as  a  detached  part  of  the  great  Apalachian  coal  fields,  from  which  it  is  separated 
by  a  Devonian  and  Silurian  ridge,  passing  through  western  Ohio,  eastern  Indiana  and  middle 
Kentucky  to  Tennessee,  in  a  direction  nearly  parallel  to  the  Allegheny  Mountains,  and  of  a 
contemporaneous  upheaval.  (Silliman's  Journal,  July,  1859,  page  28.) 


274  GEOLOGICAL  RECONNOISSANCE 

of  the  old  formations  are  overlaid  by  the  Drift,  it  is  often  impossible. 
Moreover,  even  in  the  most  favorable  circumstances,  owing  to  the  na- 
ture, thickness  and  inclination  of  the  strata,  it  is  subject  to  many  errors. 
2d.  By  Palseontological  evidence,  or  from  the  examination  of  the  fossil 
remains  of  rocks,  each  bed  of  coal,  with  its  accompanying  strata  of  fire- 
clay, shales,  sandstone,  limestone,  <&c.,  may  be  considered  as  a  peculiar 
or  separate  formation,  which  has  some  fossil  remains,  fishes,  shells  or 
plants  peculiar  to  it,  and  different,  specifically  or  numerally,  from  those 
of  higher  or  lower  strata.     The  determination  of  these  peculiar  fossil 
remains,  indicating  the  geological  horizon  of  a  bed  of  coal  or  of  any 
other  strata,  is  the  palseontological  evidence.     According  to  this,  the 
Paleeontological  Geologist,  coming  to  an  outcrop  of  coal,  is  expected  to 
fix  at  once  its  geological  horizon  from  the  fossils  of  its  shales,  though 
he  may  know  nothing  about  the  dip  or  direction  of  the  strata.     Such  a 
proceeding  does  not  take  much  time  and  when  practicable  gives  more 
reliable  results  than  the  other.     I  say  when  practicable,  because  coal 
banks  and  their  connected  strata  are  not  always  exposed  and  worked  in 
such  a  way  that  their  fossil  remains  can  be  found  and  examined.     Even 
when  the  strata  are  sufficiently  exposed  it  sometimes  happens  that  no 
fossil  can  be  found  on  account  of  the  local  barrenness  of  the  shales. 
Moreover,  the  fossils  preserved  in  the  upper  part  of  the  Coal  Measures 
are  mostly  crushed  and  undeterminable  shells.     Their  number  is  very 
great  and  the  species  have  not,  up  to  the  present  time,  been  studied 
well  enough  to  ascertain,  with  any  degree  of  certainty,  those  which 
are  peculiar  to  various  geological  horizons.     Thus  only  the  fossil  plants 
give,  as  yet,  reliable  palseontological  evidence.     But  when  the  strata  are 
of  marine  formation,  as  is  often  the  case  with  the  roof  shales,  no  fossil 
plant  is  found  with  them.     The  geologist  is  thus  in  many  cases  obliged 
to  try  to  determine  his  horizon  from  the  appearance  and  nature  of  the 
rocks,  (lithological  evidence,)  which,  especially  for  the  strata  of  the  Coal 
Measures,  is  extremely  variable  and  affords  only  an  unreliable  guidance. 
I  do  not  say  this  to  lessen  the  value  of  the  conclusions  which  I  was 
enabled  to  take  from  my  short  Palseontological  survey  of  the  coal  fields 
of  Indiana;  but  to  show  why  the  geological  horizon  of  a  few  of  the 
examined  coal  strata  has  not  been  definitely  fixed.     In  spite  of  these 
few  exceptions  I  consider  the  general  distribution  of  the  coal  strata  as 
certainly  established,  in  this  report,  for  every  one  of  the  counties  where 
coal  can  be  found  in  Indiana.     Until  a  detailed  survey  can  be  made, 
the  remarks  concerning  each  county  are  sufficient  to  direct  researches 
for  coal  at  any  place. 


OF   INDIANA.  275 


To  understand  the  horizontal  position  of  a  coal  bank,  following  the 
indications  of  this  report,  it  is  only  necessary  to  keep  in  view  the  gen- 
eral section  of  the  Coal  Measures  of  Indiana,  as  it  has  been  established 
by  the  State  Geologist.  The  number  of  a  vein  indicates  its  horizon, 
and  shows  at  once  if  there  is  any  chance  to  find  a  workable  bed  of  coal 
lower  than  the  one  exposed  or  mentioned,  and  at  what  depth  it  may  be 
found.  Researches  for  coal  do  not  appear  to  be  now  of  great  interest 
to  the  proprietors  of  coal  lands  in  Indiana,  because  the  combustible 
mineral  when  found  out  of  the  principal  lines  of  communication,  (the 
Ohio  river  and  the  railroads,)  is  not  of  great  value  at  the  present  time. 
But  as  the  combustible  is  every  year  in  greater  demand,  researches  for 
coal  will  soon  prove  a  remunerative  investment  of  money,  and  will  be- 
come more  active.  It  is  thus  proper  to  give  some  directions  which  may 
facilitate  these  researches. 

IL— DIRECTIONS  FOR  SEARCHING  FOR  COAL. 

The  eoal  beds  are  the  remnants  of  ancient  marshes  or  peat-bogs, 
where  successive  generations  of  plants  have  heaped  their  remains. 
These,  mostly  woody  materials,  have  been  preserved  and  diversely  mod- 
ified by  a  slow  process  of  decomposition  in  water,-^nd  have  been 
changed  into  coal,  anthracite  and  other  mineral  combustible,  bitumen, 
&c.  A  bed  of  coal  is  thus  a  more  or  less  expansive  and  thick  sheet  of 
combustible  matter,  covering  a  certain  area  as  does  a  marsh  or  a  lake ; 
and  not  a  vein  of  mineral  meandering  in  the  rocks  like  a  river  in  its 
bed,  and  which  can  be  struck  and  followed,  at  some  places,  without  re- 
gard to  a  peculiar  level  or  a  peculiar  horizon.  Of  course  the  extent  of 
the  primitive  marshes  was  very  variable.  They  were  separated  by 
patches  of  dry  land  or  surrounded  by  water,  or  cut  by  hills  of  sands, 
just  as  our  peat-bogs  are  now.  The  area  occupied  by  each  of  them  has 
been  also  modified  after  its  formation,  or  after  the  deposit  of  combusti- 
ble matter;  hence  we  can  not  be  surprised  to  see  a  coal  bed  losing 
itself,  or  more  or  less  abruptly  thinning  out,  in  passing  to  shales,  sand- 
stone or  other  kind  of  rocks,  to  reappear  again  at  the  same  horizon  in 
some  other  part  of  the  country.  According  to  this  remark,  then,  in  a 
broken  country,  a  bed  of  coal  is  found  cropping  out  on  the  slope  of  a 
hill,  it  can  sometimes  be  followed  all  around  the  same  hill,  and  if  the 
strata  overlying  it  were  taken  out  it  would  be  found  to  cover  entirely 
the  surface  of  the  truncated  cone  of  the  hill.  It  is  also  generally  found 


276  GEOLOGICAL  RECONNOISSANCE 

in  the  same  hills  at  the  same  level  or  at  a  level  corresponding  with  the 
dip.* 

The  dip  of  a  geological  stratum,  or  of  a  bed  of  any  kind  of  rocks, 
is  about  the  same  thing  as  the  slope  of  an  open  surface.  It  is  the  de- 
clination or  descent  towards  some  point  of  the  compass.  Supposing 
the  strata  to  have  been  bent  in  successive  undulations,  the  dip  is  con- 
trary on  both  sides,  to  the  highest  point  of  the  flexure,  which  is  called 
an  anticlinal  axis.  The  base  of  the  undulation,  at  its  point  of  flexure, 
forms  a  sydinal  axis,  with  the  dip  directed  on  both  sides  to  it.  It  is 
evident  that  the  dip  of  a  stratum  is  but  in  one  direction,  till  it  is 
changed  by  a  flexure  or  an  axis.  It  is  evident  also  that  the  same  bed 
of  coal  exposed  on  different  and  somewhat  distant  hills  will  occupy 
different  levels,  except  when  there  is  no  dip  in  the  country,  or  when 
the  hills  are  placed  on  a  line  perpendicular  to  the  dip,  wfrich  is  called 
the  strike.  Thus,  also,  if  the  two  borings  are  made  at  some  distance, 
the  dip,  according  to  its  direction,  will  bring  in  both  places  the  coal  at 
a  different  level.  Supposing,  for  example,  the  dip  to  be  towards  the 
west,  and  to  measure  twenty  feet  per  mile,  a  boring  made  one  mile 
westward  of  another  must  be  twenty  feet  deeper  to  reach  the  geologi- 
cal horizon  of  the  same  coal. 

It  is  clear,  from  what  is  said  above,  that  searching  for  coal,  either  by 
leveling  or  by  boring,  can  not  be  pursued  with  security  before  the  gen- 
eral dip  of  the  country  is  ascertained ;  neither  can  a  coal  bed  be  worked 
with  every  advantage  till  its  local  dip  is  known.  The  drainage,  the 
air  shafts,  the  breasts  and  coal  chutes  of  a  mine  follow  the  dip;  the 
gangway  and  the  galley  follow  the  strike.f 

The  dip  of  a  bed  of  coal  is  not  always  easily  ascertained  from  the 
examination  of  its  outcrop.  On  the  slope  of  a  hill  the  stratum  of  soft 
fire-clay,  which  underlies  every  bed  of  coal,  has  been  often  disintegrated 
and  washed  away  either  by  erosion  or  by  percolating  springs,  which 
find  their  way  between  the  coal  and  the  fire-clay.  As  the  coal  itself  is 
overlaid  by  easily  broken  or  bent  shales,  which  are  themselves  covered 
with  strata  of  heavy  materials,  sandstone,  limestone,  &c.,  the  pressure 


*When  coal  is  searched  above  the  general  level  of  the  country  in  hills,  mountains,  or  on 
the  slopes  of  valleys,  a  pocket  level  becomes  extremely  useful.  It  can  supply  topographical 
measurements  in  many  cases. 

tLesley's  "  Manual  of  Coal  and  its  Topography,"  page  39.  This  manual  should  be  care- 
fully studied  by  every  proprietor  of  coal  lands ;  it  is  a  faithful  guide  in  the  explorations  for 
coal. 


OF  INDIANA. 


277 


of  the  overlying  strata  generally  causes  the  exposed  borders  of  a  coal 
bank  to  bend  downwards,  or  even  to  slip  slowly  upon  the  moistened 
clay  and  thus  to  accidentally  change  its  original  level.  Accord- 
ingly, the  coal  banks  at  their  outcrops,  even  for  a  distance  of  twenty 
feet,  appear  sometimes  as  dipping  in  the  direction  of  the  slopes  of  the 
hills.  This  partial  deflection  is  entirely  independent  of  the  dip  and 
may  be  contrary  to  it. 

Sometimes  the  strata  exposed  or  cut  along  a  river,  or  a  creek,  indi- 
cate at  once  the  direction  of  the  dip.  But  generally,  especially  in  Indi- 
ana and  Illinois,  where  recently  deposited  materials  cover  the  rocks, 
the  ascertaining  of  the  dip  is  extremely  difficult. 

Outcrops  of  coal  are  discoverable  by  coal  dirt,  or  by  small  parcels  of 
coal,  which  are  found  in  the  beds  of  the  creeks,  or  on  the  slopes  of  the 
hills,  where  the  rocks  are  exposed  or  where  the  turf  is  overturned  by 
some  accidental  cause.  These  outcrops  are  caused  in  two  ways.  Either 
by  the  dip  in  a  flat  country,  where  it  may  alternately  bring  to  the  sur- 
face the  different  strata  of  the  measures,  according  to  its  direction,  or, 
in  most  cases,  by  erosion  or  deundation.  In  Indiana,  as  in  Illinois, 
water  has  been  the  only  force  in  activity  to  change  the  uniform  level  of 
the  country.  It  has  plowed  valleys  and  hollows,  and  transporting  away 
the  loosened  materials,  embossed  the  country  with  hills  of  various  forms 
and  of  various  elevations,  according  to  the  nature  of  the  rocks.  Hard 
limestone  and  sandstone,  have  been  sometimes  vertically  cut  like  high 
walls.  If  this  work  of  deundation  had  not  acted  upon  the  surface,  as 
the  old  rocks  are  generally  overlaid  by  recent  deposits,  the  coal  could 
not  have  been  discovered  in  Indiana  but  by  borings. 

The  coal  strata  covering  very  variable  areas  in  extent  and  in  outline, 
it  becomes  evident:  1st.  That  borings  for  coal  can  not  be  begun  with 
the  certainty  of  being  productive,  or  remunerated  by  the  discovery  of 
a  coal  bank. 

2d.  That,  if  by  a  boring,  coal  is  not  found  at  its  indicated  horizon,  it 
is  not  a  reason  to  suppose  that  it  can  not  be  found  in  the  neighborhood. 
The  bore  can  pass  near  the  tail  of  a-coal  bed,  through  shales  or  other 
rocks,  and  the  coal  can  be  found  of  a  good  workable  thickness  at  a  few 
feet  from  the  place.  From  five  or  six  borings  made  at  a  distance  from 
each  other  around  and  at  Uniontown,  Kentucky,  the  coal  was  found 
four  to  six  feet  thick  at  three  of  them,  while  at  both  the  others,  shales 
and  fire-clay  only  were  reached  at  the  place  of  the  coal.  At  Union- 
town  the  coal  is  worked  six  feet  thick,  just  on  the  left  side  of  the  Ohio 


278  GEOLOGICAL  RECONNOISSANCE 

river,  while  on  the  other  side,  in  Illinois,  the  boring  opposite  Union- 
town  is  unproductive. 

3d.  That  it  is  impossible,  from  a  single  boring,  to  know  the  true 
thickness  of  a  bed  of  coal,  when  it  has  been  found.  It  is  always  de- 
sirable to  have  as  many  borings  as  possible,  not  only  to  ascertain  the 
place  of  the  greatest  thickness  of  the  bed  but  to  find  out  the  general 
dip  and  to  become  acquainted  with  the  nature  of  the  strata  intervening 
between  the  surface  and  coal. 

It  is  very  difficult  to  give  general  directions  about  the  place  where 
borings  should  be  made.  External  circumstances,  the  vicinity  of  a 
line  of  communication,  easy  access  to  the  mouth  of  the  shaft,  facility 
of  drainage,  are  essential  matters  to  be  considered.  The  first  boring 
for  an  exploration  is  generally  made  near  the  deepest  part  of  a  ravine, 
especially  in  order  to  lessen  the  cost  of  the  labor.  It  is  only  where  a 
bed  of  coal  of  workable  thickness  has  been  found,  at  a  depth  where  it 
can  be  attained  by  a  shaft,  without  too  great  expense,  that  borings  are 
continued  at  different  places  to  ascertain  the  best  way  of  coming  to  the 
coal  and  of  building  a  shaft. 

It  is  always  neccessary  to  make  a  careful  record  of  the  strata  passed 
in  each  boring,  of  their  thickness,  their  nature,  &c.  For  it  is  only  by 
comparison  of  the  records,  that  the  exact  position  which  the  coal  ought 
to  occupy  can  be  fixed.  Moreover,  the  acquaintance  with  the  nature  of 
the  strata  is  necessary  to  enable  the  proprietors  to  prepare  the  best 
materials  for  the  building  of  a  shaft  and  to  make  a  valuation  of  the 
cost. 

When  a  boring  has  reached  the  depth  where  a  coal  bed  ought  to  be 
found,  and  when,  at  this  geological  horizon,  it  comes  to  black  shales, 
overlying  fire-clay,  this  can  be  considered  as  the  place  of  the  coal,  and 
the  best  is  to  stop  the  boring  at  once  and  to  begin  it  at  another  place, 
unless  one  should  desire  to  go  as  low  as  the  lowest  coal  of  the  measures. 
Generally  the  workmen  do  not  not  like  to  transport  their  tools  far, 
and  are  constantly  asserting  that  coal  can  be  found  a  few  feet  lower. 
In  Indiana  and  in  Illinois,  the  general  distribution  of  the  strata  of  the 
Coal  Measures  is  such,  that  the  space  between  two  beds  of  coal  does  not 
vary  much  in  the  same  county. 

In  any  case  the  boring  for  coal  must  be  stopped  when  they  reach  the 
Millstone  Grit.  This  sandstone  formation  is  generally  very  hard,  mixed 
with  small  pebbles  of  quartz,  easily  recognized  by  miners.  I  mention 
this  precaution  because,  as  will  be  seen  hereafter,  the  average  thickness 
of  the  only  bed  of  coal  underlaying  the  conglomerate  in  Indiana  is 


OF   INDIANA.  279 


from  two  to  three  feet.  A  coal  bed  of  this  thickness  can  not  pay  the 
working  by  a  shaft.* 

It  has  been  remarked  before  that  the  original  strata  of  the  Coal 
Measures  are  generally  covered  with  recent  deposits,  Drift,  Quaternary 
or  Alluvial.  In  northern  Indiana,  as  in  Illinois,  the  Drift  composed  of 
sand,  gravel,  bowlders,  &c.,  covers  the  Coal  Measures,  on  a  thickness 
varying  from  fifty  to  more  than  one  hundred  feet.  Along  the  Ohio  and 
the  Wabash  rivers  a  peculiar  Quaternary  formation,  evidently  anterior 
to  the  Drift,  a  compound  of  clay,  sand  and  soft  materials,  is  exposed  in 
the  base  of  the  hills,  along  the  bottoms,  and  sometimes  also  overlies 
the  coal  strata.  It  is,  of  course,  necessary  to  ascertain,  either  in  the 
ravines  cut  through  these  formations  by  creeks,  or  by  borings,  the  ex- 
act thickness  of  the  loose  materials,  through  which  shafting  is  always 
difficult  and  expensive. 

From  the  outcrops  of  a  coal,  or  from  what  is  called  its  dirt,  it  is  rarely 
possible  to  determine  at  first  sight  what  may  be  the  average  thickness 
of  the  bank,  and  what  is  the  quality  of  the  coal.  According  to  a 
former  remark,  a  coal  bank  is  generally  compressed  and  somewhat  dis- 
placed where  it  outcrops  by  the  weight  of  the  overlying  strata,  and  it 
is  often  thinned  and  broken.  On  another  side  the  percolating  water, 
removing  small  loose  parcels  from  a  thin  bed  of  coal,  may  strew  them 
on  the  slopes  and  makes  a  dirt  deposit  indicating  apparently  a  thick 
bed  of  coal.  To  try  a  bank  the  miners  ordinarily  content  themselves 
with  making  a  short  entry,  and  as  soon  as  they  come  to  solid  coal  they 
form  their  opinions,  (always  too  favorably,)  about  the  average  thickness 
and  quality  of  the  combustible  matter.  For  proprietors,  who  wish  to 
begin  the  working  of  a  coal,  and  for  companies,  that  are  interested  in 
bargaining  for  coal  lands,  such  a  superficial  examination  often  causes 
ruinous  bargains  and  useless  expenses.  The  average  thickness  of  a 
coal  bed  is  rarely  fully  exposed  except  by  an  entry  thirty  to  forty  feet 
deep  into  the  bank.  The  same  remark  can  be  applied  to  the  quality  of 
the  coal. 

III.— QUALITY  OF  THE  COAL  AND  ITS  VALUE. 

The  western  coal  fields  have  only  bituminous  and  cannel  coal.  Bitu- 
minous coal  is  fat  or  dry,  according  to  the  greater  or  less  quantity  of 

*The  cost  of  boring  varies  according  to  the  difficulty  of  transporting  the  tools,  and  also  to 
the  nature  of  the  strata,  being  softer  or  harder.  It  is  generally  from  75  cts.  to  one  dollar  and 
fifty  cents  per  foot. 


280  GEOLOGICAL  RECONNOISSANCE 

bitumen  which  it  contains.  This  quantity  varies  from  ten  to  forty  per 
cent.  A  fat  coal  burns  with  a  dark  yellow  flame,  emitting  a  thick, 
black,  strongly  scented  smoke,  and  generally  runs  and  coalesces  like 
melted  metal.  It  is  then  a  caking  coal.  To  burn  freely  it  wants  to  be 
stirred,  or  needs  the  action  of  the  bellows.  It  is  thus  good  for  black- 
smithing,  but  is  not  as  desirable  for  the  grate;  and  still  less  for  steam- 
boats or  engine  furnaces.  For  this  last  use  a  dry  coal  is  preferable. 
According  to  its  compactness  and  crystallization  a  dry  coal  becomes 
cherry  coal  or  splint  coal.  It  readily  burns  without  agglutination  of  its 
fragments,  emits  less  smoke,  gives  a  light  yellow  flame,  but  has  often 
in  its  compound  a  large  amount  of  earthy  and  mineral  (sulphur  and 
iron)  matter,  which  causes  heavy  cinders. 

Cannel  coal  is  generally  of  a  dark  brown  or  black  color,  very  com- 
pact, of  a  fine  homogenous  texture,  with  smooth  conchoidal  fractures, 
sometimes  susceptible  of  a  fine  polish  and  resembling  jet.  It  contains 
a  great  proportion  of  bitumen,  and  burns  with  a  bright  flame,  like  a 
candle.  It  is  used  mostly  now  for  obtaining  by  distillation  its  bitumen^ 
which  produces  the  numerous  varieties  of  coal  oil.  "When  used  for  the 
grate  or  for  the  furnaces  it  is  generally  mixed  with  dry  coal  on  account 
of  its  flame,  which  may  become  too  intense  and  dangerous. 

An  exact  classification  of  the  different  species  of  coal  is  impossible. 
The  chemical  compound  of  this  combustible  matter,  as  well  as  its  ex- 
ternal or  apparent  characters,  is  extremely  variable,  not  only  in  the 
strata  at  different  places  and  different  geological  horizons,  but  even  in 
pieces  taken  from  the  same  bank.  According  to  the  species  of  plants 
which  have  formed  it  and  to  their  nature,  it  contains  more  or  less  bitu- 
men, and  also  more  or  less  carbon.  According  to  circumstances  which 
have  accompanied  and  followed  its  formation,  it  is  mixed  with  more  or 
less  of  earthy  matter,  and  impregnated  with  a  variable  quantity  of 
mineral  compounds,  especially  sulphur  and  iron.  According  to  the  po- 
sition of  the  bed  to  its  superposed  strata  and  its  liability  to  percolation 
by  water,  the  coal  is  more  or  less  oxidated  with  iron,  it  is  of  various 
degrees  of  capacity  and  its  chemical  elements  combine  in  different  man- 
ners, producing  compounds  of  various  kinds.  All  these  influences  have 
acted  or  are  still  acting  in  a  different  way,  on  different  parts  of  the 
same  coal  strata,  and  for  this  reason,  it  is  seldom  indeed  that  we  find 
the  coal,  worked  out  of  a  bank,  homogenous  material  in  its  whole  ex- 
tent. 

Fully  to  understand  the  causes  of  this  diversity  in  the  composition 
of  a  coal  bed,  it  suffices  to  examine  the  formation  of  a  peat-bog^  or  the 


OF  INDIANA.  281 


appearances  and  vegetation  of  its  surface,  together  with  the  perpendicu- 
lar section  of  a  bank  where  it  is  cut  for  obtaining  peat.  On  the  sur- 
face of  the  bog,  at  any  time  of  its  growth,  we  find  some  parts  over- 
grown with  a  kind  of  pine*  from  whose  branches  and  leaves  pitch  con- 
stantly exudes  and  drops  in  such  abundance  that  it  crusts  the  ground, 
sometimes  a  few  inches  in  thickness.  Near  by,  the  surface  is  occupied 
by  small,  very  shallow  ponds,  of  various  forms,  without  any  vegetation 
whatever.  By  the  evaporation  and  percolation  of  their  water  (only  a 
few  inches  deep)  they  become  entirely  dry  in  the  summer  months,  and 
the  surface  of  the  peat,  thus  exposed  to  atmospheric  influence,  is  de- 
composed and  changed  to  a  thin  layer  of  half  muddy,  half  coaly,  mat- 
ter. Near  by  again,  the  mosses  have  overrun  the  ground,  covering  it 
entirely  with  such  a  soft  carpet  that  passing  through  it  you  sink  knee- 
deep  into  the  spongy  and  humid  mass  of  this  peculiar  vegetation.  Here 
and  there  some  tufts  of  rushes  or  of  sedges  pierce  the  mosses,  forming 
a  hard  woody  knot,  where  the  foot  can  rest  securely.  At  a  few  paces 
distance  the  ground  suddenly  becomes  compact  by  the  vegetation  of 
some  small  species  of  the  heath  family,  the  cranberry,  the  cowberry,  the 
bog-bilberry,  &c.  At  some  other  places  the  ground  is  covered  by 
lichens;  at  others  still,  with  grasses,  sedges  and  rushes.  Indeed  there 
is  not,  on  the  whole  surface  of  a  peat  bog,  a  space  of  twenty  square  feet 
where  the  same  vegetation  and  the  same  general  appearance  can  be 
seen.  In  examining  the  perpendicular  section  of  a  bank  of  peat,  cut 
for  the  extraction  of  the  combustible  matter,  the  same  extraordinary 
variety  is  seen  in  its  compounds.  To  soft,  spongy  layers  of  scarcely  de- 
composed mosses,  from  one  to  twelve  inches  thick  or  more,  succeed,  in 
descending  order,  thin  layers  of  muddy,  black,  hardened  matter;  then 
a  compact  thin  stratum  of  interwoven  rootlets  and  stemlets  of  small 
woody  plants;  then  bunches  of  half  decomposed  grass,  overlying 
trunks  and  roots  of  prostrated  (rarely  standing)  pines,  generally  im- 
bedded in  black,  bituminous,  compact  peat,  and  thus,  by  continuous 
and  alternating  changes,  to  the  base  of  the  bank.  In  following  the 
same  section  in  a  horizontal  direction,  or  from  one  point  to  another  of 
the  bank,  on  the  same  level,  the  same  changes  appear  in  perfect  ac- 
cordance with  what  we  have  remarked  on  the  surface.  The  layers  ex- 
tend in  a  kind  of  homogeneousness  for  a  few  feet,  and  are  then  suc- 


*Pinuspumilio.  It  is  a  European  species.  lu  the  bogs  of  the  North  of  the  United  States 
it  is  replaced  by  the  Tamarack  (Lariz  Americana}  and  the  Cypress  (Cupressus  thyoides,}  and 
in  the  bogs  of  the  South  by  the  Bald-Cypress,  ( Taxodium  distichum.) 


282  GEOLOGICAL  RECONNOISSANCE 

ceeded  by  others  of  another  compound.  Thus  it  happens  that  two 
pieces  of  peat,  taken  from  the  same  bank  and  subjected  to  chemical 
analysis,  rarely  show  the  same  proportion  in  their  chemical  compounds. 

In  the  coal  we  find  exactly  the  same  varieties  of  appearances  as  those 
remarked  in  the  peat.  The  top-coal,  the  middle-coal,  the  bottom-coal, 
are  terms  generally  employed  by  the  miners  to  indicate  different  quality 
of  matter  in  the  same  bank.  And  in  following  an  entry  or  a  tunnel 
every  miner  knows  that  the  coal  sometimes,  either  at  once  or  by  slight 
transitions,  becomes  a  better  or  a  poorer  quality.  The  best  places  in 
the  bank  are  carefully  looked  for,  and  the  worst  portions  obtained  are 
thrown  away  with  the  rubbish.  It  is  then  easy  to  understand  how  re- 
peated analyses  of  the  same  coal  bank  generally  show  differences  of 
some  kind.  When  the  Breckenridge  coal  was  first  examined  it  was 
pronounced  free  from  sulphur,  and  leaving  scarcely  one  per  cent,  of 
ashes.  The  average  of  four  analyses,  reported  on  page  177  of  the  first 
volume  of  the  Kentucky  Survey,  gives  7.96  per  cent,  of  ashes  and 
62.40  per  cent,  of  volatile  combustible  matter.  In  the  analyses  of  Dr. 
Peter's  report,  vol.  2,  pages  211  and  212  of  the  same  survey,  the  aver- 
ages of  repeated  analyses  show  54.40  j>er  cent,  of  volatile  combustible 
matter  and  12.30  per  cent,  of  ashes.  On  examining  different  portions 
of  a  large  piece  of  this  coal,  about  five  inches  thick,  which  had  been 
sent  for  analysis,  there  was  found  a  considerable  difference  in  the  pro- 
portion of  the  compounds.  For  example,  the  proportion  of  total  vola- 
tile matter  was  found  to  vary  from  55.70  per  cent,  to  71.70;  of  coke 
from  28.30  to  44.30,  and  of  ashes  from  7  to  13.30  per  cent. 

This  can  not  in  any  way  discredit  the  value  of  chemical  analysis  of  the 
coal,  but  only  show  how  careful  one  must  be  in  selecting  specimens  for 
the  laboratory.  It  is  evident  that  the  success  of  an  enteprise  for  the 
working  of  coal  depends  as  much  on  the  quality  of  the  matter  as  on 
the  thickness  of  the  bank.  There  is  certainly  no  country  where  chem- 
ists are  so  often  called  in  to  give  an  opinion  about  the  value  of  a  coal 
bed,  where  chemical  examinations  have  been  pursued  with  more  con- 
scientious care,  and  none  also  where  so  many  fallacious  and  deceptive 
valuations  on  the  quality  of  coal  banks  have  been  published.  Many  pro- 
prietors and  companies  have  sustained  great  losses,  and  some  failed,  only 
from  this  cause.  Their  coal  was,  in  the  average,  (as  it  is  when  delivered 
to  the  market,)  far  inferior  to  what  chemical  analyses  had  led  them  to 
expect.  Of  course,  proprietors  and  miners  are  all  interested  in  giving 
a  good  name  to  their  coal,  and  are  all  apt  to  boast  of  having  the  best 
coal  in  the  country.  When  they  send  specimens  of  coal  for  examina- 


OP  INDIANA.  283 


tion  to  a  laboratory  they  pick  up,  always,  the  best  pieces.  If  in  the 
vein  there  is  occasionally  a  thin  layer  of  pure  coal,  free  of  sulphuret, 
of  shales,  and  of  charcoal,  of  course  it  is  this  part  which  is  usually  se- 
lected as  showing  the  probable  average  quality  of  the  newly  opened 
coal  bank.  It  is  a  voluntary  cheat,  which  helps  nothing  and  deceives 
badly  the  proprietors  themselves.  For,  if  the  true  value  of  a  coal  was 
fairly  ascertained,  it  would  be  easy  to  know  for  what  purpose  it  might 
be  used  to  the  best  advantage.  It  would  thus  be  possible  to  find  a  mar- 
ket even  for  an  inferior  quality,  and  measures  would  be  taken  accord- 
ingly. But  as  it  is  now,  every  coal  being  proclaimed  from  chemical 
evidence,  of  the  very  best  quality  for  every  purpose,  proprietors  and 
companies  send  their  combustible  indiscriminately  to  every  market, 
make  bargains  with  gas  works,  iron  furnaces,  steamboat  landings,  coal 
merchants,  &c.,  investing  large  outlays  for  their  workings.  "When  after 
awhile  the  coal  is  pronounced  unfit  for  a  single  one  of  the  purposes  for 
which  it  is  used,  it  loses  at  once  its  name  and  is  declared  good  for 
nothing  whatever.  Thus  the  works  are  stopped,  the  money  lost  and  a 
coal  valuable  perhaps  for  a  purpose  different  from  the  one  to  which  it 
has  been  applied,  is  abandoned  as  worthless. 

How  then  can  the  average  value  of  a  coal  bank  be  fairly  estimated? 
By  all  the  ordinary  methods,  chemical  analyses,  trial  in  the  forge,  in  a 
furnace,  in  the  grate,  &c.;  every  kind  of  examination  may  be  satisfac- 
tory if  only  samples  for  examination  are  fairly  selected,  and  according 
to  the  following  very  simple  rules  : 

1.  Specimens  should  not  be  taken  from  the  outcrop  of  a  coal  bank 
or  from  its  proximity.     When  the  roof  of  a  coal  bank  is  not  of  solid 
stone,  an  entry  of  at  least  twenty  feet  is  necessary  to  find  the  matter  in 
its  normal  state  and  its  average  quality. 

2.  Samples  of  coal,  for  any  kind  of  experiment,  ought  to  be  se- 
lected at  various  places  in  a  tunnel,  and  taken  from  different  parts  of 
the  whole  thickness  of  the  bank.     If  even  there  should  be,  in  the  bank, 
streaks  of  sulphuret  or  of  shales,  which  are  too  thin  to  be  easily  sepa- 
rated by  the  miner,  pieces  of  these  matters  ought  to  go  with  the  speci- 
mens for  examination. 

3.  Generally  the  miners  know  the  coal  from  its  looks;  but  their 
opinion  is  influenced  by  personal  interest,  and  is  somewhat  unreliable. 
If  an  experienced  person  is  called  to  examine  a  coal,  he  can  make  his 
conclusions  in  a  far  better  manner  by  carefully  looking  at  a  few  car 
loads,  or  at  a  heap  of  coal  taken  from  the  different  parts  of  the  mine, 
than  by  going  himself  into  it  and  examining  the  entries. 

18 


284  GEOLOGICAL  RECONNOISSATCCE 

When  the  value  of  a  coal  bed  has  been  ascertained,  it  is  to  the  ad- 
vantage of  the  proprietors  to  direct  the  mining  in  the  fairest  possible 
way,  and  thus  to  order  the  careful  cleaning  of  the  coal  from  every  im- 
pure matter,  shales,  and  especially  sulphuret  of  iron,  when  mixed  in 
bands  with  it.  Thin  bands  of  charcoal,  and  repeated  bands  of  opaque 
shaly  matter,  streaks  of  sulphuret,  too  thin  to  be  separated  from  the 
coal  in  cleaning  out,  ordinarily  indicate  a  coal  of  poor  quality. 

The  compactness  of  the  coal  is  of  great  advantage,  but  it  can  not 
be  exactly  ascertained  before  the  coal  has  been  exposed  for  sometime  to 
atmospheric  influence.  When  a  coal,  though  compact,  contains  a  cer- 
tain proportion  of  sulphuric  acid  and  salts,  the  efflorescence  of  these 
causes  a  rapid  disintegration,  transforming  the  hardest  blocks  into  pow- 
der. Such  coal  \vhen  stored  is  exposed  to  spontaneous  combustion. 
Although  the  quality  of  the  coal  is  very  variable,  each  bed  of  coal,  ac- 
cording to  its  geological  position  shows  an  average  amount  of  similar 
compounds  or  peculiar  general  properties  which  it  may  be  advantageous 
briefly  to  examine,  in  order  to  direct  the  researches,  to  some  lower  bed, 
when  the  exposed  one  can  not  be  worked  with  as  much  advantage  as 
desirable. 

SEC.   1. — SUB-CONGLOMERATE  COAL. 

This  bed  of  coal  underlying  the  Millstone  Grit  formation  is  rarely 
thicker  than  two  feet.  In  some  places  in  Indiana,  however,  it  attains 
three  and  even  four  feet,  including  a  clay  parting.  The  coal  is  gener- 
ally very  hard  and  compact,  dry,  burning  with  a  bright  yellow  flame, 
without  caking,  being  thus  one  of  the  best  coals  for  the  forge.  It  is 
generally  free  from  sulphuret  of  iron,  but  a  little  shaly,  and  covered  on 
the  top  with  bands  of  brashy  or  slaty  coal.  It  is  sometimes  impreg- 
nated by  percolation  with  oxide  of  iron.  This  coal  with  the  two  next 
in  ascending  order,  is  generally  accompanied  with  iron,  in  one  form  or 
other,  the  shales  being  sometimes  entirely  oxidated,  sometimes  in- 
termingled with  pebbles  of  carbonate  of  iron,  generally  overlaid  with  a 
bed  of  conglomerate  iron  ore,  which  immediately  covers  the  coal  in 
some  places  where  the  shales  are  absent.  The  compactness  of  this  coal 
is  due  to  the  weight  of  the  great  conglomerate  formation  overlying  it. 
When  this  bed  is  found  exposed  near  the  surface  of  plains,  as  in  Arkan- 
sas, and  is  only  covered  with  shales,  it  becomes  brittle  by  atmospheric 
influence  and  oxidated  bv  infiltration. 


OF  INDIANA.  285 


SEC.  2. — COAL  1  A. 

The  first  coal  above  the  conglomerate  is  rarely  worked  on  account  of 
its  vicinity  to  No.  1  B.,  which  is  much  thicker.  Owing  to  the  mate- 
rials forming  its  roof,  its  coal  has  different  appearances.  When  it  is 
overlaid  by  soft,  black,  bituminous  shales,  it  is  brittle,  easily  decom- 
posed by  atmospheric  influence,  and  marked  with  bands  of  sulphuret. 
When  it  is  overlaid  by  a  bank  of  compact,  coarse,  hard  sandstone,  it 
appears  on  the  contrary  hard  and  compact,  resembling  the  sub-conglom- 
rate  coal ;  in  this  case  it  is  a  dry  coal,  in  the  other  case  it  looks  like  a 
fat  coal.  Although  I  have  seen  this  bed  worked  at  some  of  its  outcrops 
in  Kentucky,  I  never  had  an  opportunity  to  see  the  coal  burning,  or  to 
make  a  fair  trial  of  its  quality. 

SEC.  3. — COAL  1  B. 

From  its  average  thickness  and  quality,  this  coal  is  one  of  the 
best  of  the  measures.  It  has  a  great  tendency  to  pass  to  Splint  coal 
and  to  Cannel  coal.  Sometimes,  as  at  Breckenridge  and  Greenup 
counties,  Kentucky,  its  whole  thickness  is  Cannel  coal ;  at  other  places, 
one  half  only  of  the  bank,  generally  the  upper  part  is  bituminous.  In 
many  of  the  localities,  where  it  outcrops  or  is  worked,  it  has  only  a 
few  inches  of  Cannel  coal  on  the  top  of  a  bank  of  four  to  five  feet  of  dry 
Bituminous  coal.  Its  Cannel  coal  is  rich  in  oil.  Most  of  the  oil  facto- 
ries of  Kentucky,  at  Breckenridge,  Maysville,  Greenupsburg,  Ashland, 
&c.,  of  Ohio,  at  Newark,  &c.,  use  for  distillation  the  Cannel  coal  fivm 
this  bed. 

Contrary  to  the  assartions  of  some  Geologists,  it  is  certain  that  from 
this  coal  bed  is  mostly  derived  the  mineral  oil  which  is  now  pumped 
out  in  large  quantities  from  different  places  on  the  borders  of  the  coal 
fields.  An  active  and  peculiar  decomposition  of  the  woody  matter,  or 
of  other  substances  of  the  plants,  caused  by  atmospheric  action,  has 
separated  the  bitumen,  which,  after  percolating  through  the  coarse  un- 
derlying sandstone,  has  been  arrested  and  gathered  in  subterranean 
reservoirs,  at  the  surface  of  lakes  and  pools  of  water.  This  process 
can  be  followed  at  different  stages  around  the  Breckenridge  coal  mines. 
The  sandstone  underlying  coal  No.  1  B.  is  still  so  much  impregnated 
with  coal  oil  that  oil  drops  out  of  the  pieces  exposed  to  the  sun.  All 
the  springs  percolating  through  this  sandstone,  and  gushing  out  at  the 


286  GEOLOGICAL  RECONNOISSANCE 


base  of  the  hill  around,  are  called  oil  springs,  or  bring  with  the  water 
drops  of  oil,  which  may  be  gathered  at  the  surface.  No  doubt 
borings  in  that  country  would  cause  the  discovery  of  oil  wells  as  rich 
as  those  of  Ohio,  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia.  No  doubt  also  that  these 
deposits  of  oil,  like  worked  beds  of  coal,  must  be  exhausted  in  a  given 
time.  Though  this  is  not  directly  related  to  our  examination  of  the 
coal,  the  practical  part  of  the  question  in  regard  to  the  origin  of  these 
oil  springs,  may  be  treated  in  a  few  w^ords,  to  satisfy  the  inquiries  often 
made  by  proprietors  of  coal  lands.  In  my  explorations  through  the 
whole  extent  of  the  Coal  Measures  of  the  United  States,  I  have  seen 
only  two  geological  strata  producing  oil.  The  one  is  coal  No.  1  B., 
the  other  the  Marcellus  or  black  shales  of  the  Devonian.  The  sulphur 
springs  of  Bath  county,  Kentucky,  emerge  from  the  bottom  of  a  small 
funnel-like  valley  at  the  base  of  hills  one  hundred  and  fifty-five  feet 
high,  all  composed  of  these  Devonian  bituminous  shales.  Here,  as  at 
Breckenridge,  the  process  of  percolation  of  the  oil  can  be  followed  from 
the  base  of  the  shales,  through  a  bed  of  hard  porous  sandstone  under- 
lying them.  Springs  come  out  of  this  sandstone  and  bring  drops  of 
oil  with  the  water.  Such  a  locality  promises  also  profitable  results  to 
explorations  and  the  borings  for  oil.  Of  course  nobody  can  assert  that 
subterranean  reservoirs  ought  to  exist  at  a  given  place;  and  if  there  is 
none,  the  oil  percolating  for  centuries  through  the  sandstone  may  have 
been  carried  away  by  the  water  of  the  springs  and  of  the  rivers.  But 
from  geological  evidence  the  indications  for  large  subterranean  deposits 
of  oil  are  as  favorable  for  this  place  and  for  Breckenridge  as  for  any 
other  locality  where  oil  is  now  obtained  from  wells.  I  am  satisfied  that 
this  oil  coming  from  the  Devonian  shales,  like  that  pecolating  from  the 
coal,  is  of  a  vegetable  origin.  Only  the  plants  living  in  connection 
with  the  formation  of  the  Marcellus  shales  were  marine  plants,  and 
could  not  form  any  coal  by  their  remains,  because  they  have  no  woody 
fibre.  Marine  plants  especially,  decomposed  under  certain  peculiar  in- 
fluences, have  then  produced  the  mineral  oil. 

The  deposits  of  coal  oil  are  mostly  found  along  the  true  borders  of 
the  Coal  Measures.  The  cause  of  this  peculiar  disposition  can  not  be 
discussed  here.  The  absence  of  oil  springs  is  remarked  all  along  t*nd 
Kin  both  sides  of  the  Silurian  and  Devonian  axis,  which  separates  the 
co<i\  fields  of  Ohio  from  those  of  Indiana.  I  find  in  this  phenomenon 
;j.  new  proof  that  both  coal  fields  were  originally  formed  in  a  single 
iiasin,  and  that  the  Silurian  axis  is  due  to  an  upheaval  posterior  to  the 
formation  of  the  coal. 


OF  INDIANA.  287 


Returing  to  coal  No.  1  B,  we  find  its  Cannel  coal  of  a  generally 
coarse  texture,  and  of  a  brown-black  color.  It  leaves  for  residue  a 
great  amount  of  ashes,  the  quantity  varying  from  six  to  fifteen  percent. 
This  fact  proves  that  Cannel  coal  is  not  a  compound  of  purely  woody 
fibre  as  some  believe.  Though  the  Cannel  coal  of  No.  1  B.,  has  gen- 
erally much  sulphur,  the  bituminous  coal  of  this  bed  is  free  from  this 
mineral  matter,  or  at  least  does  not  contain  a  great  quantity  of  it.  It 
is  mostly  a  dry,  hard,  splint  coal,  finely  crystallized,  leaving  after  com- 
bustion, white  ashes  and  cinders  in  small  proportional  quantity.  This 
coal  is  good  for  every  purpose.  Along  the  Ohio  river  it  is  reputed  as 
equal  to  the  best  Pittsburg  coal.  It  is  the  Bell,  Carey,  Hawesville,  and 
Cannelton  coal  of  Kentucky  and  Indiana;  and  the  Hocking,  Cuyahoga 
and  Sharp  county  coal,  of  Ohio.  At  any  portion  of  the  Coal  Measures 
where  working  for  coal  is  desirable,  and  where  this  coal  can  be  reached 
at  a  moderate  depth,  it  is  always  safe  to  try  to  find  it  by  borings.  For 
besides  the  general  good  quality  of  its  coal,  the  bed  is  one  of  the  most 
extensively  formed  and  thus  one  of  the  most  reliable. 

SEC.  4. — COAL  1  c. 

This  bed  gives  on  the  contrary  one  of  the  worst  coals  of  the  meas- 
ures. It  is  mostly  an  agglomeration  of  stems,  transformed  into  coal 
and  mineral  charcoal,  intermixed  with  shales  and  impregnated  with 
sulphuret  of  iron.  Sometimes  the  bank  is  formed  only  of  very  bitu- 
minous shales,  which  burn,  but  do  not  consume.  In  this  case  they  con- 
tain a  large  proportional  amount  of  bitumen,  and  produce  oil  by  dis- 
tillation. They  are  ordinarily  mixed  in  the  retorts  with  Cannel  coal  of 
No.  1  B.  When  coal  1  C  is  well  developed,  its  thickness  varies  from 
three  to  five  feet,  rarely  more.  The  coal,  from  oxidation  of  iron  has 
sometimes  a  rusty  color;  sometimes  also  it  is  very  black  and  veined  by 
numerous  streaks  of  sulphuret.  It  is  generally  brittle,  fat,  caking,  with 
a  strong  bad  scented  smoke.  In  Indiana  and  in  Illinois,  it  is  better 
than  in  Kentucky,  and  it  is  thus  extensively  worked  in  some  places; 
but  is  never  demanded  when  another  coal  can  be  obtained.  It  is  work- 
ed a  great  deal  in  St.  Clair  county,  Illinois,  opposite  St.  Louis,  on  the 
eastern  banks  of  the  Mississippi  river. 

It  is  somewhat  remarkable  that  coal  1  B  and  1  C,  which  are  some- 
times either  united  in  one  or  placed  in  close  proximity  to  each  other, 
are  scarcely  found  equally  well  developed  at  the  same  place.  Where 
coal  1  C  is  thick  and  of  tolerable  quality,  coal  1  B  is  thin,  and  on  the 


288  GEOLOGICAL   KECONNOISSANCE 


contrary  coal  1  C  is  not  found  workable  where  coal  1  B  is  of  nominal 
thickness. 

SEC.  5. — COAL  NO.  2. 

It  is  generally  four  feet  thick,  separated  by  a  thick  parting  of  shales, 
clay  or  sulphuret  of  iron.  The  coal,  when  taken  out  of  the  mines,  is 
hard  and  apparently  compact,  but  it  contains  sulphuric  acid  and  salts 
in  abundance.  When  exposed  to  atmospheric  influence,  it  is,  in  a  short 
time, covered  with  a  white  efflorescence,  and,  by  and  by,  crumbles  to  pow- 
der. It  is  a  caking  coal,  at  least  generally  so.  It  is  worked  in  many 
places  along  the  Ohio  river,  at  Ironton,  Hanging  Rock,  Amanda  fur- 
nace, &c.  Although  the  bed  is  generally  well  formed  on  extensive 
areas,  it  entirely  disappears  in  some  places.  I  have  not  seen  it  of  a 
good  workable  thickness  in  the  Western  coal  fields  of  Kentucky,  Indi- 
diana  and  Illinois. 

SEC.  4. — COAL  NO.  3. 

This  bed  is,  like  No.  1  B,  occasionally  a  Cannel  coal.  Its  bituminous 
coal  is  very  black,  so  black,  indeed,  that  at  some  places  the  miners  call 
it  black  diamond.  It  is  generally  free  from  sulphur  and  from  iron,  but 
has  occasionally  its  faces  or  lines  of  cleavage,  covered  with  lamellae  of 
selenite,  or  sulphate  of  lime.  It  is  finely  crystallized,  has  not  much 
shale,  very  little  mineral  charcoal,  and  is  compact,  though  the  cleavage 
breaks  it  in  pieces  of  medium  size.  As  it  burns  without  caking  and 
leaves  no  cinders  it  is  in  great  demand  for  furnaces  and  for  gas  works. 
Its  Cannel  coal  is  not  as  bituminous  or  as  good  for  oil  as  that  of  coal 
No.  1  B ;  but  it  is  of  a  much  finer  texture,  and  of  a  darker  color,  look- 
ing much  like  polished  ebony.  Its  thickness  is  not  as  great  as  that  of 
No.  1  B,  though  it  attains,  rarely  indeed,  five  feet;  and  it  is  also  much 
less  reliable  in  its  horizontal  development.  Nevertheless  it  is  worked 
over  the  whole  extent  of  our  coal  fields,  from  the  slopes  of  the  Alle- 
gheny Mountains,  in  Pennsylvania,  to  the  Mississippi  river.  Its.  exter- 
nal characters  are  remarkably  uniform,  and  one  somewhat  acquainted 
with  coal  will  easily  recognize  either  its  bituminous  or  its  cannel  coal 
at  first  sight. 


OF    INDIANA.  289 


SEC.   7. — COAL    NO.  4 

Is  placed  under  a  thick  stratum  of  coarse  sandstone,  (the  Mahoning,) 
resembling  the  Millstone  Grit,  though  less  gritty  and  more  micaceous. 
The  coal,  according  to  its  position,  is  a  very  hard  and  compact  coal. 
It  is  dry,  sometimes  splint  coal,  never  cannel  coal,  containing  less  of 
bitumen  or  more  of  pure  carbon  than  any  other  coal  bed;  and  thus  not 
very  good  for  gas  works,  but  excellent,  indeed  the  best  coal  for  coke. 
It  is  generally  known  as  the  Pomeroy  coal.  The  thickness  of  the  bed 
averages  four  feet.  In  some  places  of  the  Coal  Measures  the  coke  of 
this,  No.  4,  has  been  used  instead  of  charcoal  in  the  iron  furnaces.  It 
is  generally  free  from  sulphuret  and  shales,  and  the  bank  is  rarely  di- 
vided by  a  parting.  The  roof  shales  are  thin  and  sometimes  entirely 
absent,  the  sandstone  often  forming  the  roof. 
•'•'  I  •  • 

SEC.    8. — COAL  NO'S   5,   6,  7  AND   8. 

The  coal  of  these  beds  is  not  known  to  me  but  from  chemical  analy- 
ses, and  from  exterior  appearance.  I  never  had  an  opportunity  of 
judging  by  comparison,  at  different  places,  the  value  of  the  mineral  of 
these  places  as  a  combustible.  These  coal  strata  occupy,  in  the  western 
coal  fields  of  Kentucky,  Illinois  and  Indiana,  a  space  generally  barren 
of  coal  in  the  east,  and  not  very  reliable.  The  coal  of  No.  5,  at  the 
few  places  where  I  have  seen  it  worked,  appears  nearly  as  black  as  that 
of  No.  3;  but  it  is  shaly  and  mixed  with  streaks  of  sulphuret.  Proba- 
bly a  caking  or  a  fat  coal.  The  bank  is  often  divided  by  shales  or  part- 
ings. The  coal  of  No.  6,  like  that  of  No.  1  C,  is  liable  to  be  disinte- 
grated and  rusted  with  oxides  of  iron,  and  like  No.  2,  when  exposed  to 
atmospheric  influences,  it  is  soon  covered  with  a  white  efflorescence,  and 
crumbles  to  pieces.  It  is  never  in  great  demand.  Coals  Nos.  7  and  8 
are  generally  thin.  I  have  not  seen  them  worked. 

SEC.  9. — COAL  NO.  9 

Is  covered  by  a  thick  bed  of  black  bituminous  shales.  Its  coal  is  of 
a  good  quality,  more  fat  than  dry,  intermediate  between  the  coal  of  No. 
3  and  No.  2.  It  is  extensively  worked  in  both  banks  of  the  lower 
Ohio,  at  Mulford,  Curlew,  Newburg,  Shawneetown,  Evansville,  &c. 
Its  thickness  varies  from  three  to  six  feet,  and  is  scarcely,  if  ever,  cut 


290  GEOLOGICAL   RECONNOISSANCE 

by  a  parting,  a  peculiarity  which  serves  sometimes  to  distinguish  it  from 
coal  No.  11.  Its  coal  has  locally  some  sulphuret.  It  is  in  good  demand 
for  steamboat  furnaces. 

SEC.  10. — COAL  NO.  10. 

This  coal  is  nearly  unknown  to  me.  I  consider  it  ail  irregular  mem- 
ber of  coal  No.  11,  which  is  itself  very  irregular  in  every  point.  I  have 
seen  this  coal  No.  10  only  at  Shawneetown,  where  it  was  exposed  but  not 
worked. 

SEC.  11. — COAL  NO.  11. 

.  '  ? 

The  combustible  mineral  of  this  bed  is  sometimes  very  black,  finely 
crystallized,  very  bituminous  or  fat,  of  good  quality,  somewhat  caking, 
excellent  for  gas,  sometimes  shaly,  full  of  sulphuret  and  of  mineral 
charcoal,  very  poor  indeed ;  sometimes  also,  in  part,  a  fine  Cannel  coal, 
rich  in  oil.  It  is  mostly  separated  in  two,  three,  or  many  more  mem- 
bers, by  partings  of  shales,  and  sometimes  of  limestone;  and  thus,  by 
successive  alternations  of  coaly  matter  and  bituminous  shales,  becomes 
a  very  thick  bank  of  little  value  and  of  diificult  working.  This  coal 
has  been  formed  over  vast  areas.  It  is  the  same  as  the  great  Pittsburg 
coal,  which  covers  a  surface  of  hundreds  of  square  miles.  Sometimes 
coal  No.  9,  No.  11  and  No.  12  are  united  in  one. 

SEC.   12. — COAL  NO.  12. 

Like  No.  10,  it  might  be  considered  as  a  member  of  coal  No.  11.  It 
is  generally  a  thin  bed.  placed  at  the  base  of  the  Anvil-Bock  sandstone, 
separated  from  the  former  coal  by  a  limestone.  It  thickens  sometimes 
to  four  or  five  feet.  The  coal  is  extremely  shaly,  mostly  what  is  called 
brash  by  the  miners,  and  is  unfit  for  use.  I  have  never  seen  it  worked. 

The  coal  strata  above  the  Anvil-Rock  Sandstone  are  worked  at  some 
places  in  Indiana,  and  will  come  under  examination  in  considering 
their  geological  horizons.  They  are  thin  beds,  mostly  two  feet  thick, 
nearly  unknown,  and  worked  only  for  the  use  of  some  blacksmiths.  I 
am  not  yet  well  enough  acquainted  with  their  coal  to  be  able  to  make 
even  an  approximate  valuation  of  their  quality. 


OF  INDIANA.  291 


IV.— GEOLOGICAL  HOKJZON  OF  THE  COAL  STRATA  OF 

INDIANA. 

A  few  of  the  following  remarks  about  the  horizontal  position?  of 
some  of  the  coal  banks  of  Indiana,  do  not  agree,  perhaps,  with  the  in- 
dications which  I  may  have  given  to  the  proprietors,  when  I  first  vis- 
ited and  examined  their  coal  beds.  I  have  to  explain  first  the  cause  of 
this  discrepancy,  for  fear  that  it  should  cause  the  whole  of  my  asser- 
tions to  be  considered  hazardous  and  unreliable. 

In  exploring  the  western  coal  fields  of  Kentucky  for  the  geological 
State  Survey  of  that  State,  where  the  coal  beds  of  the  lower  division 
of  the  measures,  (except  No.  1  B,)  are  scarcely  exposed,  I  never  had  an 
opportunity  to  study  and  note  the  remarkable  changes  to  which  the 
shales  of  some  of  these  coal  strata  are  exposed,  from  the  influence  of  a 
marine  formation.  I  was  thus  wrongly  led  to  admit,  that  a  certain 
nature  of  black,  very  bituminous  shales,  whitish  spotted  and  generally 
containing  fins  and  teeth,  of  small  species  of  fishes  of  the  shark  family, 
accompanied  extensively  the  two  coal  beds  of  the  upper  measures,  No. 
9  and  No.  11.  But  after  the  exploration  of  the  coal  fields  of  Indiana, 
having  passed  to  Illinois,  to  follow  the  same  researches,  I  had  opportu- 
nity to  remark,  at  some  well  exposed  coal  banks,  of  which  the  strati- 
graphical  position  was  evident,  that  some  coal  strata  of  the  lower  meas- 
ures, especially  No.  1  C  and  No.  3,  are  sometimes  overlaid  by  black  bi- 
tuminous and  fossiliferous  shales,  and  by  limestone,  in  apparently  just 
the  same  manner  as  coal  No.  9  and  No.  11,  of  the  upper  measures. 
This  led  me  to  doubt  my  former  assertions  about  the  position  of  a  few 
coal  banks  that  I  had  admitted,  from  lithological  evidence  only,  and  to 
re-examine  and  carefully  compare  all  the  collected  specimens.  I  had 
also  to  take  into  account  all  the  data  of  another  nature  recorded  in  my 
notes,  the  general  dip,  the  relation  of  the  strata,  their  relative  distances, 
&c.  Thus  my  first  impression  had  to  be  changed  in  a  few  cases;  and  I 
was  left  in  doubt  for  a  few  others.  For  this  reason,  I  can  not  now  de- 
cide the  geological  horizon  of  coal  strata  marked  only  by  the  lithologi- 
cal characters  of  the  shales. 

It  is  very  much  to  be  regretted  that  the  animal  palaeontology  of  the 
coal  is  still  nearly  unknown,  and  that  not  only  the  numerous  species  of 
shells  of  the  Coal  Measures  have  not  been  carefully  determined,  but 
that  nothing  has  been  done  to  ascertain  if  there  is  not,  with  each  dif- 
ferent geological  horizon,  some  species  of  shells  which,  like  the  plants, 


292 


GEOLOGICAL    RECONNOISSANCE. 


are  peculiar  to  a  certain  geological  level.  It  is  only  when  we  possess 
such  a  guide  that  the  history  of  the  Coal  Measures  will  be  fully  under- 
stood, and  will  give  us  certain  indications  to  determine  the  exact  posi- 
tion of  each  coal  bank. 

POSEY  COUNTY. 

Six  miles  north  of  New  Harmony,  in  the  range  of  hills  three-fourths 
of  a  mile  north  of  Mr.  Jos.  Calvin's  house,  a  coal  is  exposed,  about  nine 
inches  thick  at  its  outcrop.  The  coal  is  shaly,  in  soft  layers,  intermin- 
gled with  streaks  of  mineral  charcoal,  especially  remains  of  Calamites. 
It  is  overlaid  by  a  thick  bed  of  grayish  soft  shales,  containing  fossil 
shells,  in  a  poor  state  of  preservation,  especially  a  species  of  Lmgula, 
In  the  upper  part  of  this  bank  of  shales  I  have  found  also  a  specimen 
of  the  bark  of  a  Sigillaria,  of  the  same  species  as  some  fossil  trees 
found  at  Blairsville,  in  an  erect  position.  The  section  of  the  strata  over- 
lying this  coal  is : 

FEET.   INCHES. 

Covered  space,  tops  of  the  hills 70 

Limestone  without  fossils 2 

Shaly  sandstone  in  bank ,.       5 

Grayish,  yellow,  soft  shales,  with  plants  and  shells 21 

Coal 9 

Fire-clay 2 

On  the  Mackaddo  creek,  eight  miles  north-east  of  New  Harmony, 
two  thin  beds  of  coal  crop  out  near  the  bed  of  the  creek.  The  lower 
one,  six  inches  thick,  is  covered  by  black,  coarse,  micaceous,  sandy 
shales,  passing  to  sandstone,  and  fall  of  broken  remains  of  plants.  In 
ascending  the  creek,  the  strata,  above  this  coal  and  sandstone,  give 
place  to  a  soft,  buff-colored,  fossiliferous,  shaly  sandstones,  intermixed 
with  streaks  of  limestone,  or  passing  to  a  bank  of  limestone.  This 
limestone  and  the  buff-colored  shales  contain  a  great  abundance  of  fossil 
shells,  among  which  are  a  species  of  Gervillia  and  some  Trilobites.  The 
coal  connected  with  the  limestone,  apparently  overlying  it,  is  opened 
behind  the  hill  at  some  distance  off  the  creek,  about  fifty  feet  higher 
than  the  former.  It  is  said  to  be  twelve  to  eighteen  inches  thick,  roofed 
by  black,  bituminous,  soft,  fossiliferous  shales.  This  coal  could  not  be 
closely  examined. 

Near  Springfield,  a  bed  of  coal,  ten  to  twelve  inches  thick,  is  some- 


OF  INDIANA.  293 


what  worked  for  the  forge,  on  the  land  of  Mr.  W.  C.  Pitts.  It  is  over- 
laid by  a  coarse,  soft  sandstone,  easily  disintegrated.  This  coal  is,  in 
my  opinion,  the  equivalent  of  the  lower  bed  of  coal  of  Mackaddo  creek, 
but  there  is  no  other  reason  for  this  assertion  than  the  identical  and 
apparent  nature  of  the  sandstone  overlying  the  coal  in  both  places. 

On  Big  creek,  near  the  road  from  New  Harmony  to  Mt:  Yernon,  a 
bed  of  coal,  eight  to  ten  inches  thick,  is  exposed  and  worked  for  burn- 
ing lime.  This  coal  has  a  roof  of  black,  very  bituminous  and  fossilifer- 
ous  shales,  about  one  foot  thick.  Among  the  fossils  there  are  very 
small  comb-like  shark's  teeth,  of  a  species  identical  with  those  of  the 
shales  of  Rush  creek  and  Grayville,  and  a  small  Avicula.  There  are 
also  broken  remains  of  plants,  especially  broken  pieces  of  Calamites 
and  LicopoditeSy  a  fine  new  species  with  a  stem  (or  branch)  half  an  inch 
thick,  forking  near  the  top  and  bearing  a  few  small  drooping  branches. 
The  leaves  are  sessile  on  the  stem,  about  half  an  inch  long,  lanceo- 
late, pointed  and  concave.  This  species  has  more  the  appearance  of  a 
true  Lycopodium  (Club-Moss)  than  any  of  the  plants  found  in  the  Coal 
Measures  until  now.  Above  these  black  shales,  there  is,  at  Big  creek, 
a  bank  of  sandstone  eight  feet  thick.  It  is  soft  and  sometimes  entirely 
absent  or  replaced,  like  the  coal,  by  a  fossiliferous  hard  limestone, 
worked  for  burning  lime.  Among  the  numerous  fossil  shells  of  this 
limestone  there  are  some  Trilobites,  and  apparently  some  of  the  species 
of  the  limestone  of  Mackaddo  creek.  Near  the  mill,  below  the  bridge 
and  at  a  short  distance  from  the  place  where  the  coal  and  the  limestone 
are  worked,  these  strata  are  replaced  by  yellow,  ferruginous  shales,  un- 
derlaid by  a  bed  of  shaly  sandstone,  probably  marking  the  geological 
horizon  of  the  coal.  About  ten  feet  lower,  under  the  dam  of  the  mill, 
a  bed  of  soft  grey  shales,  covered  with  remains  of  plants,  especially 
leaves  of  Neuropteris  hirsuta,  is  exposed  at  low  water  level.  This  sec- 
tion is  approximately  thus: 

nsKT. 

Grayish,  yellow,  ferruginous  shales,  with  pebbles  of  carbonate  of 

iron . 50 

Coarse,  soft,  shaly  sandstone.... 6 

Gray,  soft  shales  with  plants,  at  low  water 0 

At  Bush  creek,  near  its  mouth,  there  is  a  thin  bed  of  coal,  twelve  to 
eighteen  inches  thick,  overlaid  by  a  bank  of  sandstone  four  to  six  feet 
thick,  and  on  the  border  of  the  Wabash,  at  low  water,  a  bed  of  yellow 
soft  shales  is  exposed,  and  contains  the  greatest  abundance  of  fossil 


294  GEOLOGICAL  RECONNOISSANCE 

plants,  especially  of  Neuropteris  hirsuta  and  of  Pecopteris  polymorpha. 
Somewhat  higher  up  the  Wabash  a  bank  of  black  shales,  with  some 
coal,  is  seen  exposed,  apparently  overlying,  by  a  few  feet,  the  geologi- 
cal horizon  of  the  former  yellow  shales.  These  black  shales  contain, 
with  a  great  many  shells,  the  same  comb-like  small  teeth  of  sharks  as 
those  of  Big  creek,  and  also  apparently  the  same  species  of  shells.  The 
bank  is  broken  and  disturbed ;  but  it  is  a  mere  local  distubance,  proba- 
bly caused  by  erosion  of  the  soft  underlying  beds  of  fire-clay,  by  the 
action  of  the  Wabash  river.  A  slip  or  disturbance  like  this  is  exposed 
at  a  somewhat  higher  level,  below  Grayville,  on  the  Illinois  side. 

This  bluff  at  Grayville,  though  it  does  not  belong  to  Indiana,  ought 
to  be  examined  and  described  in  this  report.  Indeed,  the  remarkable 
modification  of  the  strata  exposed  there,  and  the  whole  section  of  the 
bluff,  is  a  representation  of  nearly  all  the  main  part  of  the  Coal  Meas- 
ures which  we  have  seen  exposed  in  Posey  county,  above  the  great  lime- 
stone of  West  Franklin. 

Near  the  landing  of  Grayville  a  bed  of  coal,  ten  inches  thick,  has 
for  its  roof  a  bank  of  black,  very  bituminous  shales,  containing  shells 
of  the  same  species  as  the  black  shales  of  Rush  creek  and  Big  creek, 
with  the  same  small  comb-like  teeth  of  shark.  The  coal  is  here  under- 
laid by  shaly  fire-clay,  black  shales,  shaly  sandstone,  passing  at  its  base 
to  a  bed  of  yellow  shales,  covered  with  remains  of  the  same  species  of 
fossil  plants,  as  those  mentioned  in  the  shales  at  low  water  level  of  the 
Wabash  river,  below  the  mouth  of  Rush  creek,  and  under  the  dam  at 
Big  creek.  A  little  lower  on  the  Wabash,  below  the  landing  of  Gray- 
ville, a  thin  stratum  of  ferruginous  limestone  makes  its  apprearance, 
above  the  coal,  and  increases  in  size  further  down,  replacing,  by  and 
by,  part  of  the  shales  and  the  coal.  The  section  varies  accordingly  at 
each  part  of  the  bluff.  The  average  distribution  of  the  strata  is  as  fol- 
lows : 


FEET.   INCHES. 


Covered  space 8 

Black,  bituminous,  fossiliferous  shales  4 

Fossiliferous,  ferruginous  limestone 1 

Black,  soft,  bituminous  shales 3 

Brashy  coal,  full  of  calamites 3 

Coal  slaty  and  intermixed  with  charcoal 3 

Fire-clay 1 

Shaly  sandstone  and  gray  shales  with  plants,  to  the  level  of  the 
river...  12 


OP  INDIANA.  295 


Near  the  lower  part  of  the  bluff,  down  the  Wabash,  the  limestone 
becomes  two  feet  thick,  is  overlaid  by  six  feet  of  black  bituminous 
shales  and  a  coarse  sandstone.  This  limestone  is  there  extremely  fossil- 
iferous,  being  in  part  a  compound  only  of  this  shell,  (GerviHia^  seen 
in  the  limestone  of  Mackaddo  creek.  From  this  it  appears  that  con- 
sidering the  extraordinary  likeness  in  the  distribution  and  the  nature 
of  the  strata,  and  also  the  identity  of  their  fossils,  especially  of  the  fos- 
sil plants,  the  upper  coal  of  Mackaddo  creek,  the  coal  at  Big  creek,  at 
Hush  creek,  and  at  Grayville,  are  equivalent,  or  belong  to  the  same  geo- 
logical horizon. 

The  strata  exposed  at  the  bluff  of  Grayville  are  there  overlaid  by  a 
thick  bed  of  hard  sandstone,  (about  30  feet,)  which  I  consider  as  the 
equivalent  of  the  Cut-off  sandstone  of  New  Harmony,  and  as  the  high- 
est part  of  the  Coal  Measures  exposed  in  Posey  county.  This  is,  ac- 
cordingly, the  central  part  of  the  synclinal  axis  from  which,  on  both 
sides,  the  measures  are  slowly  uprising  eastward  and  westward.  Thus, 
as  was  surmised  by  my  friend,  Prof.  E.  T.  Cox,  New  Harmony  is 
favorably  placed  for  the  boring  of  an  Artesian  well. 

The  strata  exposed  on  the  bank  of  Big  creek,  at  Blairsville,  have  the 
following  section  : 


l-EET.    INCHES. 


1.  Alluvial  soil  and  clay 5 

2.  Shales  and  shaly  sandstone 15 

3.  Coal  brash 3 

4.  Fire-clay  and  broken  plants 6 

5.  Sandstone  in  bank 6 

6.  Fire-clay  and  trace  of  coal 3 

7.  Shales  and  shaly  sandstone  to  level  of  the  creek. 

The  shales  and  shaly  sandstone,  No.  2,  contain  many  broken  remains 
of  fossil  plants,  especially  Catamites;  they  resemble  the  shales  underly- 
ing the  coal  at  Grayville,  at  the  level  of  the  Wabash  river.  In  the 
sandstone  No.  5  of  the  section,  and  perhaps  in  the  tire-clay  underlying 
it,  very  remarkable  fossil  remains  of  standing  trees  were  discovered  by 
Dr.  D.  Dale  Owen.  One  of  the  largest  specimens,  preserved  in  the  cab- 
inet of  this  celebrated  geologist,  is  two  feet  three  inches  high,  from  the 
base  of  the  root,  perfectly  cyclindrical,  and  thirteen  inches  in  diameter 
at  its  top  where  it  is  broken.  The  roots  still  attached  to  the  trees  and 
obliquely  directed  are  about  fourteen  inches  long,  from  six  to  nine 
inches  in  diameter  at  their  point  of  divergence  from  the  trunk,  and 


296  GEOLOGICAL   RECONNOISSANCE 

one  inch  only  at  their  broken  extremity.  These  trunks  (many  of  the 
same  species  were  found  together,)  were  first  considered  as  the  remains 
of  Palm  trees;  but  specimens  found  with  their  bark,  still  preserved, 
showed  them  to  belong,  or  at  least  to  be  nearly  related,  to  the  genus 
SigiU&ridj  which  has  furnished  to  the  Coal  Measures  a  great  many  spe- 
cies of  large  trees,  thus  greatly  contributing  to  the  formation  of  the 
coal  by  their  heaped  remains.  The  Blairsville  species,  named  Sigillaria 
Owenii  from  its  discoverer,  has  its  bark  marked  by  double  oval  scars, 
placed,  two  by  two,  in  a  quincunxial  order,  at  about  one  inch  distance, 
and  joined  together  by  a  deep  line  or  groove,  which  gives  them  the 
form  of  a  pair  of  spectacles.  Each  scar  is  one-fourth  of  an  inch  broad 
in  a  horizontal  direction,  marked  by  a  ring  parallel  to  its  border,  and 
by  a  central  vascular  point,  like  that  of  Stigmaria.  The  scars  of  the 
root  are  numerous,  more  irregularly  placed,  triangular  or  round,  mark- 
ed also  with  a  ring  and  a  central  point,  and  thus  a  true  Stigmaria. 

From  the  plants  and  nature  of  the  shales  overlying  the  coal  of  Blairs- 
ville, I  consider  it  a  lower  level  than  the  coal  of  Big  creek  and  "Rush 
creek,  and  probably  as  the  equivalent  of  the  coal  of  Springfield  and  of 
the  lower  Mackaddo  creek.  At  Mr.  Calvin's  coal,  in  the  hills  north  of 
New  Harmony,  I  found  a  piece  of  the  bark  of  a  Sigillaria,  which  be- 
longs to  the  same  species  as  the  trees  of  Blairsville.  But  as  I  do  not 
find,  in  the  composition  of  the  strata,  any  likeness  whatever,  I  do  not 
believe  that  the  geological  horizon  is  the  same,  and  I  would  rather  sup- 
pose that  Mr.  Calvin's  coal  is  a  higher  coal  than  that  of  Big  and  Rush 
creek.  Its  position  is  still  uncertain. 

In  boring  for  a  well  at  Speck  and  Hoffman's  brewery,  ten  miles  east 
of  Evausville,  on  the  road  to  New  Harmony,  a  coal  has  been  found,  at 
a  depth  of  fifty  feet  below  the  surface.  The  materials  taken  from  the 
shaft  are  only  gray  shales,  containing  remains  of  the  same  plants  as 
those  of  Blairsville;  especially  pieces  of  Calamites.  The  coal  found  at 
this  place  is  probably  the  equivalent  of  the  Blairsville  coal. 

At  West  Franklin,  the  Ohio  river  is  bordered  by  high  banks  .of  lime- 
stone, sandstone  and  shales,  exposed  and  quarried  a  little  above  the 
town.  The  limestone  is  in  two  banks,  separated  by  black  shales,  con- 
taining sometimes  a  thin  coal,  six  to  eight  inches  thick.  The  upper 
bank  is  of  a  fine,  smooth  fracture,  hard,  compact  and  fossiliferous. 
The  lower  bed  is  yellowish,  less  compact,  sometimes  nodular  and  also 
fossiliferous. 

The  general  section  of  the  bluff  is  as  follows  : 


OF    INDIANA.  297 


FEET.   INCHES. 

1.  Covered  space,  alluvial 12 

2.  Yellow,  ochrous,  coarse  sandstone,  mixed  with  clay  iron  ore.  10 

3.  Coal '. 10 

4.  Hard  yellow  sandstone 4 

5.  Black  or  gray,  sometimes  micaceous,  mostly  argillaceous 

shales,  with  broken  plants 15 

6.  Black,  hard,  compact  limestone 4-5 

7.  Coal  6  inches,  with  shales 3 

8.  Coarse  limestone,  passing  to  chert 6-8 

9.  Covered  space  to  level  of  the  river 20 

The  thin  coal,  No.  3,  of  this  section  is  apparently  the  equivalent  of  the 
lower  coal  on  the  Mackaddo  creek.  At  least  the  sandstone  which  ac- 
companies it  has  just  the  same  composition. 

The  conclusions  arrived  at  till  now  regarding  the  comparative  geo- 
logical horizon  of  the  coal  strata  of  Posey  county,  agree  well  enough 
with  those  taken  by  Dr.  D.  Dale  Owen  from  stratigraphical  observa- 
tions, and  published,  pages  5  to  8,  of  the  first  Geological  Report  of  In- 
diana. But  there  is,  concerning  these  coal  strata,  a  far  more  important 
question,  viz :  that  of  their  exact  place  in  the  Coal  Measures;  in  order 
to  ascertain  if  coal  of  a  greater  thickness  can  be  reached  in  Posey  coun- 
ty, and  at  what  depth  from  the  surface.  The  question  can  be  answered 
only  after  the  examination  of  the  strata  of  Vanderburgh  county,  and 
by  a  comparison  of  the  palseontological  data  of  sections,  made  at  va- 
rious places  of  the  Coal  Measures,  along  the  Ohio  river. 

VANDERBURGH  COUNTY. 

On  the  road  from  West  Franklin  to  Evansville,  about  two  miles  west 
of  this  last  place,  a  bank  of  flinty  limestone  is  exposed,  just  at  the  base 
of  the  hills  bordering  the  bottom  of  the  Ohio  river.  The  limestone  is 
evidently  the  equivalent  or  the  continuation  of  the  lower  bank  of  the 
West  Franklin  limestone.  Consequently,  the  mouth  of  the  Bodiam 
shaft  which  app'ears  at  a  short  distance,  near  the  Ohio  river,  is  at  or 
near  the  base  of  the  same  limestone.  Now  if  we  consider  the  relation 
of  the  strata,  as  we  have  seen  it  and  established  it  in  Posey  county,  ac- 
cording to  lithological  and  palseontogical  evidence,  we  can  fix  a  gen- 
eral and  reliable  section  of  the  measures  of  Posey  and  Vanderburgh 
counties,  as  follows : 


298  GEOLOGICAL    RECONNOISSANCE 


1.  Sandstone  of  the  Cut-oft'  and  of  Grayville 40 

2.  Black  argillaceous,  bituminous  shales,  with  fossil  shells  and 

comb-like  teeth  of  shark,  at  Grayville,  Rush  creek,  Big 

creek,  &c.,  sometimes  passing  to  or  replaced  by  limestone  8 

3.  Coal,  ranging  from  10  to  18  inches 1 

4.  Fire-clay,  passing  to  limestone 1 

5.  Shales,  with  fossil  plants  at  low  water  level  of  the  Wa- 
bash,  &c.,  at  Grayville,  below  mouth  of  Rush  creek,  and 

at  Big  creek 30 

6.  Soft  sandstone,  at  Springfield,   West  Franklin,  and  shaly 
sandstone  at  Blairsville 10 

7.  Coal 10 

8.  Shales  and  sandstone  exposed  at  West  Franklin 20 

9.  Hard,  black,  fossiliferous  limestone,  at  West  Franklin 5 

10.  Coal,  thin  a  few  inches,  with  argillaceous  shales,  at  West 
Franklin 3 

11.  Coarse  fossiliferous  limestone 8 

12.  Top  of  Bodiam  shaft,  covered  space,  alluvial,  probably 
shales  and  a  thin  coal* 30 

13.  Slaty  clay 68 

14.  Sandstone 12 

15.  Slaty  rock 43 

16.  Shales,  with  iron  stone 4 

17.  Sandstone  (Anvil  Rock?).., 16 

18.  Coal  Nos.  11  and  12 3 

19.  Fire-clay 1 

20.  Limestone 8 

21.  Sandstone 18 

22.  Slaty  clay,  with  iron  stone,  &c 70 

23.  Main  coal  No.  9,  at 399  10 

In  the  third  volume  of  the  reports  on  the  Geological  State  Survey  of 
Kentucky,  Dr.  D.  Dale  Owen  has  established,  (page  18  to  24,)  from 
data  collected  by  borings  and  from  stratigraphical  evidence,  a  connected 
section  of  which  a  part  may  be  compared  with  the  former,  and  shows 
a  striking  analogy.  It  is  subjoined. 

*At  places  this  space  is  occupied  by  two  thin  strata  of  coal,  placed  at  a  short  distance  from 
each  other.  The  balaiice  of  this  section  is  that  of  the  Bodiam  shaft.  It  was  kindly  fur- 
nished to  me  by  Dr.  Richard  Owen. 


OP   INDIANA. 


299 


Connected  Section  of  Coal  Measures,  copied  from  Dr.  D.  Dale  Owen's 
Geological  Report  of  Kentucky,  3d  vol.,  page  18. 


Kind  of  Eocks. 


50 


60 


50 


Soft  sandstone  and  shale. 


Thin  coal,  No.  1  B. 


Sandstone  and  shale. 


1     1     1 


L        L 


L        L 


35 


24 


10 


102 


L         L 


10 


19 


34 


11 


10 


Carthage  limestone. 

Thin  coal  No.  IT,  of  8  inches. 

Soft  shale. 
Sandstone. 


Soft  shaly  rocks  and  bands  of  sanlstone. 

Thin  coal,  No.  H. 
Fire  clay. 

Soft  and  hard  sandy  limestone. 
Hard  shaly  sandstone, 

Soft  slaty  sandstone. 
Argillaceous  shales. 

Brown  shales. 
Hard  limestone. 


19 


300 


GEOLOGICAL    KECONNOISSANCE 


Connected  Section  of  Coal  Measures. — Continued. 


Kind  of  Eocks. 


L        L 


Space. 


115 


L      L      L 


L      L      L 


50 


38 


Space. 


L        L        L 


L        L        L 


L      L      L 


L      L      L 


23 


Soft  shales. 
Coal  No.  15. 
Fira  clay. 
White  limestone  ? 
Brown  shales. 
Limestone. 

White  sandy  shales. 


White  sandstone.* 


Brown  shales. 


Hard  black  shale. 

Coal  1  foot,  No.  14. 
One  foot  of  fire-clay. 

Hard  limestone. 
Hard  stone. 


Brown  shale. 


Dark  brown  shale. 


Black  shale. 


Soft  gray  limestone. 
Hard  limestone. 

Blue  and  light  shales. 


*The  Indiana  eection,  in  Posey  county,  begins  at  the  top  of  this  sandstone. 


OP  INDIANA. 


301 


Connected  Section  of  Coal  Measures.  —  Continued. 

II 

«  a 

11 

i 

& 

| 

| 

Kind  of  Rocks. 

i 
t 

Inches. 

Space. 
Space. 

100 
21 

2 

L        L        L 

11 

9 

White  limestone. 

Bluish  shale. 

Thin  coal,  No.  13. 
Fire  clay  and  red  oxide  of  iron. 

Shaly  sandstone. 

Hard  gray  sandstone. 

Soft  gray  sandstone. 

Bluish  shale. 
Micaceous  shale. 

Hard  gray  sandstone^  Anvil  Rock., 

Coarse  sandstone. 

Hard  sandstone. 
Thin  coal,  No.  12  .. 

Hard  limestone,  bituminous  shale. 
Bluish  limestone  and  clay. 

L        L 

L        L        L 

L        L 

16 

2 

4 

» 

10 

18 

6 

14 

T 

1 

19 

15 

r 

1 

12 

8 

8 

3 

3 

12 

8 

L        L 

8 

1 

L        L        L 

302 


GEOLOGICAL  RECONNOISSANCE 


Connected  Section  of  Coal  Measures.  —  Contirflied. 

Space  be- 
tween coal. 

l| 

£ 

1 

Kind  of  Rocks. 

1 

1 
1 

Space. 
Space. 

Space. 

46 
67 

86 

£aa,cra| 

5 

Coal  with  clay  parting,  No.  11. 
Fire-clay  and  pyriteferous  sandstone. 

Thin  bedded  sandstones,  with  hard  bands  intercalated. 

Coal  2  to  3  feet,  No.  10. 
Fire-clay  ^ 

and         >  In  all  T  feet  8  inches. 
Shales,      J 
Sandstone. 

Shale  and  thin  sandstone. 
Sandstone. 

Indurated  argillaceous  shale,  with  clay  iron  stone  basis. 

Avicula  shale. 

Main  Mulford  coal,  No.  9. 
Fire-clay. 

Shale. 
Sandstone. 

Shales,  with  coal  and  argillaceous  iron  ore. 

White  and  pink  sandstone. 
"Well  coal,  No.  8. 

5 

6 

40 

4 

3 

2 

1 
4 

6 

2 

I     1 

10 

1 



5 

5 

36 

4 

3 

ffl&SHBH 

5 

2 

4 

| 

25 

I 

i 

8 

10 

——  -~  :*-  » 

2 

6 

OF  INDIANA. 


303 


Connected 

Section  of  Coal  Measures.  —  Continued. 

Spac«  be- 
tween coal. 

1 

i 

i 

Kind  of  Eocks. 

4 
1 

i 

1 

Space. 
Space. 

Space. 

43 

84 

65 

16 

Sandstone. 

Sandstone  and  shales. 

Coal  No.  7,  and  ferruginous  limestone  ? 
Impure  limestone  ferruginous  shale. 

Shale. 
Thin  bedded  sandstone,  with  shale  partiDgs. 

Three  foot  or  Little  Coal,  No.  6. 
Fire  clay. 

Soft  sandstone. 

Micaceous  sandstone. 

Shale,  with  carbonate  of  iron. 

Coal  No.  5. 
Fire-clay. 

Shales.                           ..n.l" 

1 

2T 

2 

42 

24 

18 

3 

3 

30 

1 

25 

1 

T 

assasan 

4 

3 

20 

304 


GEOLOGICAL  KECONNOISSANCE 


Connected  Section  of  Coal  Measures.  —  Continued. 

Space  be- 
tween coal. 

"S 
£ 

i 

Kind  of  Rocks. 

1 

| 

I 

Space. 
/ 

Space. 

Space. 
Space. 

116 

34 

102 
62 

42 

Shale  with  segregations  of  iron  stone. 

Massive  sandstone. 
Mahoning  sandstone.* 

Gray  shales  with  plants. 

Coal  No.  4,  four  to  five  feet  thick,  with  parting. 

Shales. 
Curlew  limestone. 

Black  bituminous  or  gray  soft  shale. 
Coal  No.  2,  underlaid  with  fire-clay. 

Shale. 
Sandstone. 

Shale  or  sandstone. 

Coal  No.  2,  with  clay  parting. 
Fire-clay. 

Sandstone. 

50 

\ 

4 

SS!SS 

4 

15 

L        L       L 

4 

15 

•HBOHB 

4 

62 

10 

30 

3 

.^__ 

2 

40 

\ 

*This  part  of  the  section  is  modified  by  Mr.  Lesquereux  according  to  the  measures  of  Indiana,  from  the  Mahoning 
sandstone  down  to  the  upper  Archimedes  limestone. 


OP  INDIANA. 


305 


Connected  Section  of  Coal  Measures. — Continued. 


Kind  of  Eocks. 


Space. 


Space. 


53 


32 


Space. 


L       L       L 


20 


I         1         I 


I         I         I 


50 


30 


Black  bituminous  shale,  with  flint  and  limestone,  or  soft 
stone,  Burstone. 


Coal  No.  1  C. 
White  fire-clay. 


Micaceous  grey  shale  or  grey  metal  with  sandstone  and 
black  shale. 


Coal  No.  1  B. 
Fire-clay. 

Hard  gritty  sandstone  and  Shales. 
Coal  No.  1  A. 


50 


Conglomeratic  or  gritty  sandstone,  Millstone  Grit. 


10 


Black,  soft  or  grey  shales,  with  clay  iron  ore. 

Coal,  (sub-conglomerate.) 
Archimedes  limestone. 


I  consider  it  evident,  that  the  great  bank  of  sandstone,  50  feet  8  inches 
thick,  marked  on  his  section  between  coal  Nos.  14  and  15,  is  the  equiv- 
alent of  the  sandstone  of  the  Cut-off  on  the  Wabash,  near  New  Harmony. 
Beginning  thus  from  this  sandstone  and  descending  to  coal  No.  9  the 
section  of  Dr.  D.  Dale  Owen  is  : 


306  GEOLOGICAL  RECONNOISSANCE 

FEET.   INCHES. 

J.  \Vhitesandstone 50 

2.  Brown  shales 38 

3.  Hard  black  shales 1     1 

4.  Coal  No.  14 1 

5.  Fire-clay 1 

6.  Hard  limestone 5 

7.  Hard  stone 1     1 

8.  Brown  shale 23    6 

9.  Dark  brown  shales 4 

10.  Black  shales 5 

11.  Soft  gray  limestone 1    6 

12.  Hard  limestone 3 

13.  Blue  and  light  shales 4     6 

14.  White  limestone 31     9 

15.  Bluish  shale 16     2 

16.  Thin  coal,  No.  13 4 

17.  Fire-clay  and  red  oxide  of  iron 7 

18.  Shaly  sandstone 10 

19.  Hard  gray  sandstone 18     6 

20.  Soft  gray  sandstone 14     7 

21.  Bluish  shales 19     5 

22.  Micaceous  shales 7 

23.  Hard  gray  sandstone,  (Anvil  Kock) 12 

24.  Coarse  sandstone 8     8 

25.  Hard  sandstone 3 

26.  Thin  coal,  3  inches,  No.  12 3 

27.  Shales  and  sandstone 12     8 

"2S.  Hard  limestone,  bituminous  shales,  &c 8     1 

29.  Coal  with  parting,  No.  11 5 

30.  Fire-clay  and  pyritiferous  sandstone 5     6 

31.  Thin  bedded  sandstone,  with  hard  bands 40     4 

32.  Coal  2  to  3  feet,  No.  10 3 

33.  Fire-clay  and  shales 7     8 

34.  Sandstone 10 

35.  Shales  and  thin  sandstone 5 

36.  Sandstone 5 

37.  Indurated  argillaceous  shales,  with  clay,  &c 36     4 

38.  Avicula  shale 3 

To  coal  No.  9,  5  feet  thick 408  11 


OF  INDIANA.  307 


In  this  section,  hard  sandstone,  five  feet  thick,  (No.  6  of  the  section,) 
represents  the  limestone  under  the  coal  at  Big  creek,  a  limestome  some- 
times replacing  the  coal,  and  thicker.  At  Grayville  it  is  underlaid  by 
30  feet  shales  with  fossil  plants,  and  at  other  places  by  a  sandstone  con- 
taining a  thin  coal,  which  in  this  section  is  replaced  by  five  feet  of  black 
shales.  The  two  great  banks  of  limestone  separated  by  argillaceous 
shales,  agree  perfectly  in  both  sections,  and  at  the  base  of  this  lime- 
stone, begins  the  Bodiam  shaft.  If  we  consider  that  both  these  sec- 
tions have  been  made  at  far  different  places  and  on  different  principles, 
their  coincidence  can  not  but  appear  striking. 

At  Lasalle,  Illinois,  a  place  which,  from  my  observations,  occupies 
just  the  same  geological  horizon  as  Evansville,  the  two  strata  of  lime- 
stone are  overlaid  by  thirty  feet  of  shales.  Above  these  shales  there  is 
a  coal  one  foot  thick,  overlaid  by  a  very  fossiliferous  limestone  three 
feet  thick,  containing  the  shells  of  the  same  species  as  some  of  those  of 
Big  creek,  Rush  creek  and  Grayville,  especially  the  Gervillia.  The 
measures  at  the  border  of  the  basin  are,  at  Lasalle,  somewhat  reduced ; 
nevertheless  the  proportion  in  thickness  of  the  strata  is  well  enough 
preserved.  The  two  banks  of  limestone,  the  upper  one  twelve  feet 
thick,  the  lower  one  fourteen  feet,  are  separated  by  five  feet  of  black, 
argillaceous,  bituminous  shales,  with  traces  of  coal.  The  space  from  the 
base  of  the  lower  limestone  to  the  middle  coal  of  the  shaft  of  Lasalle, 
which,  from  the  abundance  of  Avicula  in  its  shale  is  coal  No.  9,  is  228 
feet.  At  the  Bodiam  shaft  it  is  230  feet.  The  difference  results  from 
the  reduction  of  the  measures  between  coal  No.  11  and  No.  9,  which 
has  nothing  extraordinary  whatever,  and  is  sometimes  much  greater. 
At  the  Bodiam  shaft,  coal  No.  11  is  172  feet  from  the  base  of  the  lime- 
stone, and  at  Lasalle  it  is  175  feet. 

According  to  the  data  which  have  been  examined  and  discussed 
above,  it  follows :  that  borings  for  coal,  in  the  central  and  western  part 
of  Posey  county,  would  not  offer  any  chances  of  a  remunerative  invest- 
ment of  money.  Along  the  Wabash  river,  from  Grayville  to  its  mouth, 
coal  No.  11  would  be  reached  at  300  feet,  and  coal  No.  9,  a  far  more  re- 
liable coal  and  of  a  better  quality  than  No.  11,)  at  400  feet  deep.  On 
the  south-eastern  side  of  the  county,  at  the  base  of  the  bluff  of  West 
Franklin,  the  same  coal  No.  9  would  be  found  at  about  the  same  depth 
as  at  the  Bodiam  shaft,  or  at  from  280  to  300  feet.  In  the  western  part 
of  Vanderburg  county  this  space  would  be  reduced  to  from  100  to  150 
feet. 


308  GEOLOGICAL   RECONNOISSANCE 


WARRICK  COUNTS. 

The  coal  bank  worked  at  Newburgh,  with  the  section  of  the  shaft, 
has  been  already  reported  in  the  first  Geological  Report  of  Indiana, 
(pages  10  and  11).  The  main  coal  of  Newburg  is  No.  9,  the  equivalent 
of  the  main  coal  of  the  Bodiam  shaft.  It  has,  in  its  underlying  shales, 
the  Avicula  in  great  number.  The  same  bed  was  formerly  worked  near 
the  mouth  of  Pigeon  run,  at  high  water  level  of  the  Ohio  river.  The 
bank  is  covered  and  its  character  could  only  be  examined  from  a  few 
shales,  left  outside  of  the  tunnel.  The  distance  from  the  base  of  the 
Anvil  Rock  sandstone  to  the  coal  is  only  seventy  feet.  At  Newburg 
this  space  is  one  hundred  feet,  which  is  about  the  maximum.  It  is 
sometimes  reduced  to  fifty  feet. 

From  indications  received  at  Newburg  from  Mr.  G.  I.  Hutchinson, 
the  director  of  the  mines,  there  are  exposed  in  the  hills,  near  Taylors- 
ville,  two  workable  beds  of  coal.  We  had  no  time  to  examine  this 
part  of  the  county.  From  the  direction  of  the  general  dip  to  the  west, 
a  little  south,  it  is  probable  that  both  these  veins  are  the  equivalents  of 
coal  No.  4  and  No.  3,  or  the  same  horizon  as  the  coal  banks  of  the  hills 
around  Rockport. 

SPENCER  COUNTY. 

Just  on  the  limits  of  the  county,  on  Pigeon  creek,  section  6,  town- 
ship 16  south,  range  7  west,  the  top  of  a  bank  of  hard,  somewhat  con- 
glomeratic and  ferruginous  sandstone,  is  exposed  at  high  water  level  of 
the  creek.  It  is  referable  to  the  Mahoning  sandstone,  and  both  coal 
beds,  No.  4  and  No.  3,  should  be  met  with  at  and  near  its  base. 

Four  miles  north-east  of  Rockport,  on  Mr.  B.  Shrode's  property, 
section  3,  township  7  south,  range  6  west,  a  bed  of  coal  five  feet  thick 
is  worked  under  a  bank  of  hard  sandstone  and  shales,  thirty-five  feet 
thick.  The  coal  is  very  compact,  finely  crystalized,  free  from  sul- 
phuret  and  shales,  a  dry  splint  coal,  one  of  the  best  I  have  seen  in  In- 
diana. Thirty-five  feet  lower  there  is  another  coal  bed  two  feet  thick, 
overlaid  by  very  black  bituminous  shales,  containing  fossil  remains  of 
fishes,  of  shells,  and  of  plants.  Between  the  upper  coal  and  the  sand- 
stone a  thin  layer  of  gray  soft  shales,  (brash)  covers  the  coal.  It  con- 
tains in  abundance  species  of  plants  characteristic  of  coal  No.  4.  From 
the  nature  and  lithological  composition  of  the  black  shales  overlying 

*  * 


OF  INDIANA.  309 


the  lower  coal,  which  resemble  those  of  coal  No.  9, 1  was  inclined  to 
refer  these  coal  strata  to  a  higher  level,  and  to  consider  the  sandstone 
as  the  Anvil  Rock.  But  neither  the  stratigraphy  and  the  direction  of 
the  dip  of  the  measures,  nor  the  palaeontology  of  the  shales,  could  sup- 
port such  a  conclusion.  Even  the  black  shales  of  the  lower  coal  con- 
tain, at  Mr.  Shrode's  bank,  fruits  and  some  broken  species  of  fossil 
plants  belonging  to  coal  No.  3.  As  subsequent  explorations  in  the  coal 
fields  of  Illinois  have  proved  with  entire  evidence  that  coal  No.  3  is 
occasionally  overlaid  by  black  bituminous  shale,  of  the  same  appear- 
ance and  nature  as  those  of  coal  'No.  9,  there  is  no  doubt  whatever  that, 
following  palseontological  evidence,  the  coal  strata,  at  Mr.  Shrode's 
knob,  are  the  equivalents  of  No.  4  and  No.  3,  and  that  the  hard  sand- 
stone quarried  above  the  coal  (and  very  good  indeed  for  building  pur- 
poses) is  the  Mahoning  sandstone.  The  fine  quality  of  the  upper  coal, 
which  is  especially  good  for  coke,  and  its  short  distance  from  No.  3, 
would  not  agree  with  the  quality  and  the  place  of  coal  No.  11. 

At  the  place  where  we  examined  it,  coal  No.  3  is  only  two  feet  thick, 
but  it  may  be  found  all  around  in  the  hills  of  a  greater  thickness,  and 
overlaid,  as  it  is  generally,  with  a  limestone  or  a  calcareous  iron  ore. 

Seventy -five  feet  lower  than  coal  No.  3  there  is,  on  the  same  prop- 
erty, a  bed  of  fire-clay  containing  crystals  of  gypsum.  This  fire-clay 
apparently  marks  the  place  of  coal  No.  2,  which  has  not  been  found 
here.  It  is  a  fine  white  clay,  used  at  some  places  for  pottery,  and  val- 
uable as  a  fertilizer  of  poor  lands. 

Though  the  top  of  the  bluff  at  Eockport  is,  from  barometrical  meas- 
ures, about  120  feet  lower  than  the  top  of  the  knob  above  Mr.  Shrode's 
coal,  I  can  not  but  consider  the  sandstone  exposed  at  both  places  as 
equivalent,  or  as  of  the  same  geological  horizon.  From  the  direction 
of  the  dip  these  strata  should  occupy  about  the  same  level,  but  along 
the  Ohio  river  there  have  been  many  local  disturbances,  which  can  not 
be  accounted  for  by  general  laws. 

The  sandstone,  at  Rockport,  is  softer  than  that  of  the  knob,  but  it  is 
cut  in  horizontal  strata,  of  two  to  three  feet  thick,  by  a  thin  bed  of 
soft  shales  with  plants,  in  the  same  manner  as  the  former.  The  section 
at  both  places  is  also  somewhat  different;  the  distance  between  the  two 
coal  beds,  under  the  sandstone,  being  greater  at  Rockport.  According 
to  data,  which  were  kindly  furnished  to  me  by  Dr.  Richard  Owen,  the 
section  at  Rockport,  from  the  top  of  the  bluff  to  the  botton  of  a  shaft 
dug  at  its  base,  is : 


310  GEOLOGICAL    RECONNOISSANCE 


Shales  and  sandstone 37 

Slate  and  coal 2 

Fire-clay 10     8 

Fine  sand  rock 6     6 

Blue  rock 30 

Dark  shales 22  10 

Coal 2     6 

Dark  shales  1     6 

White  rock 2 

There  is  probably  some  mistake  in  the  figures  of  the  above  section. 
At  Rockport  the  sandstone,  from  its  base  to  its  top,  measures  at  least 
thirty-seven  feet.  As  I  have  not  seen  any  of  the  materials  taken  from 
the  shaft,  I  am,  of  course,  unable  to  discuss  the  question  concerning  the 
place  of  these  coal  strata  with  any  reliable  data.  Coal  No.  4  and  No. 
3  are,  (as  remarked  before,)  generally  separated  by  a  limestone,  the 
Curlew  limestone,  varying  from  one  to  eight  feet  in  thickness.  Could 
the  blue  rock,  marked  thirty  feet  in  the  section,  be  a  limestone  ?  Proba- 
bly not;  for  no  limestone  of  such  a  thickness  has  ever  been  seen  at  this 
geological  horizon.  Where  the  Curlew  limestone  is  absent,  as  at  Mr. 
Shrode's  knob,  its  place  is  taken  by  argillaceous,  ferruginous  shales,  or 
clay  iron  ore,  and  the  distance  between  both  coal  strata,  which  averages 
thirty-five  to  forty  feet,  is  still  reduced.  The  sandstone  of  the  bluff  of 
Kockport  might  be,  by  its  position,  the  equivalent  of  the  sandstone 
generally  overlying  coal  No.  2,  and  the  lower  coal  marked  in  the  sec- 
tion under  twenty-two  feet  ten  inches  of  dark  shales,  could  belong  to 
No.  1  C.  This  question  can  be  decided  only  by  the  examination  of  the 
shales  overlying  the  coal  strata,  and  of  their  fossils,  if  they  contain  any, 
or  by  a  deeper  boring.  If  the  Eockport  sandstone  is  the  Mahoning, 
the  Cannelton  main  coal  can  be  reached  at  300  feet  from  its  base;  and 
at  about  150  feet,  if  it  belongs  to  coal  No.  2.  In  any  case  Rockport  is 
placed  in  a  very  favorable  position  for  reaching  coal  by  shafts,  all  around 
the  place. 

About  four  and  a  half  miles  south-west  of  Rockport,  on  'Squire 
James  Stuteville's  property,  section  9,  township  8  south,  range  6  west, 
a  coal  28  to  30  inches  in  thickness  is  exposed  at  different  places,  and 
overlaid  by  shales,  presenting  various  lithological  appearances.  At  one 
place,  the  black  shales  which  cover  it  are  of  the  same  nature  and  have 
the  same  fossil  remains  as  those  of  the  lower  coal  at  Mr.  Shrode's.  At 


OF  INDIANA.  311 


another  place,  where  the  coal  has  been  reached  by  a  shaft,  the  shales 
are  grayish,  soft,  a  kind  of  soap  stone,  with  remains  of  plants.  That 
both  these  shales  belong  to  coal  No.  3,  is  proved  from  what  is  seen  at 
some  localities  in  Illinois,  where  this  bed  of  coal  is  overlaid  by  two  strata 
of  shales,  the  upper  one  of  black,  laminated  bituminous  shales,  like 
those  of  the  Knob;  the  lower  one  of  soft  soapstone  shales,  full  of  plants 
like  those  of  the  shaft  at  'Squire  Stuteville's.  The  distance  of  the  coal 
here  from  the  base  of  the  Mahoning  sandstone,  exposed  at  the  top  of 
the  hills,  is  about  50  feet.  From  the  direction  of  the  dip,  the  sandstone 
occupies  here  its  exact  place,  while  at  Rockport,  if  it  is  the  same,  it  is 
about  one  hundred  feet  too  low. 

PEREY   COUNTY. 

>   •  .• 

A  detailed  private  examination  of  this  county  being  purposed,  for  a 
future  time,  by  the  State  Geologist,  Dr.  D.  Bale  Owen,  my  explorations 
were  not  directed  to  it.  Nevertheless,  and  from  an  examination  of  the 
coal  strata  of  Cannelton,  during  my  connection  with  the  Geological 
State  Survey  of  Kentucky,  I  am  able  to  report  the  position  of  the  coal 
strata  of  the  county  in  a  general  way. 

The  borders  of  the  coal  measures  follow  the  western  borders  of  Perry 
county,  and,  accordingly,  the  sub-conglomerate  coal  banks  of  about  two 
feet  thickness  ought  to  be  found  along  the  line  of  Deer  Creek,  and  east- 
ward of  it,  on  Poison  creek,  &c.  At  Cannelton,  and  eastward,  coal  1  A. 
1  B.  and  1  C.  are  found  at  different  levels  above  and  below  the  general 
line  of  surface  of  the  country.  The  main  coal  of  Cannelton  has  all  the 
characters,  and  the  quality  also,  of  coal  No.  113.  It  is  in  part  Cannel 
coal,  and  even  at  some  places  entirely  Cannel.  It  is  mentioned  in  the 
first  report  of  Dr.  D,  D.  Owen,  page  49.  Westward  of  Cannelton,  coal 
1  C.  and  coal  2  may  be  exposed  at  some  localities;  but  where  a  bed  of 
coal  is  desirable,  in  that  part  of  the  country,  it  will  be  more  profitable 
to  search  for  coal  No.  1  B.  by  a  boring. 

It  is  much  to  be  regretted  that  the  proposed  survey  of  Perry  county 
could  not  be  performed  by  the  Director  of  the  State  Geological  Survey 
of  Indiana,  who  was  so  well  acquainted  with  the  geological  formations 
of  the  county.  By  its  position,  by  the  quality  and  the  abundance  of  its 
combustible  mineral,  this  county  is  one  of  the  most  interesting  in  the 
State.  According. to  its  geological  horizon,  some  rich  deposits  of  iron 
ore  may  be  found  in  its  eastern  borders. 

If  now  we  consider  the  dip  of  thf  c*oal  measure*  alonar  the  Ohio  rivor, 


312  GEOLOGICAL  RECONNOISSANCE 

according  to  the  data  obtained  by  our  examination  up  to  Perry  county, 
we  come  to  find  a  remarkable  agreement  with  the  conclusions  taken 
from  stratigraphical  and  palseontological  evidence. 

The  distance  from  Cannelton,  where  coal  1  B.  is  worked,  to  the  base 
of  the  Mahoning  sandstone,  at  Kockport,  is  about  16  miles.*     The  aver- 
age vertical  space  from  coal  No.  1  B.  to  the  base  of  the  Mahoning  sand- 
stone is  320  feet,  thus  showing  a  dip  of  20  feet  per  mile.     From  Rock- 
port  to  above  Newburg,  where  coal  No.  9  crops  out  at  the  level  of  the 
river,  the  distance  is  nineteen  miles.     As  there  is  an  average  space  of 
370  feet  from  the  base  of  the  Mahoning  to  coal  No.  9,  we  have  thus  a 
dip  of  nineteen  feet  and  a  half  per  mile.     The  place  of  coal  ISro.  9  is  in 
the  Bodiam  shaft,  at  280  feet  from  the  surface,  while  at  the  Henderson 
boring  it  is  only  at  160  feet.     I  do  not  know  the  cause  of  this  difference. 
At  Henderson  the  space  between  coal  No.  4  and  No.  9  is  somewhat  too 
short;  at  the  Bodiam  shaft,  the  bank  of  shales  overlying  the  anvil-rock 
sandstone  is  too  thick.     There  may  be  some  errors  in  the  measures,  or 
some  local  disturbances.     For,  counting  the  average  depth  of  coal  No. 
9,  between  both  places,  we  found  it  to  be  420  feet  for  a  distance  of  eleven 
miles,  indicating  a  dip  of  twenty-two  feet  per  mile.     As  I  consider  Mt. 
Yernon  and  New  Harmony  as  placed  just  along  the  line  of  the  great 
synclinal  axis  to  which  the  dip  converges  on  both  sides  of  the  basin,  if 
we  admit  the  same  ratio  of  20  feet  per  mile  for  the  dip  from  Evansville 
to  New  Harmony,  a  distance  of  about  20  miles,  we  find  that,  at  this 
last  place,  the  depth  at  which  coal  No.  9  could  be  reached  would  be  400 
feet — -just  the  same  conclusion  to  which  we  arrived  by  considering  the 
succession  of  the  strata  and  the  local  sections. 

The  line  of  the  principal  axis  apparently  passing,  as  previously  re- 
marked, from  Mt.  Vernon  to  Gray ville .  and  Lasalle,  (Illinois,)  is  in  a 
direction  parallel  to  the  border  of  the  eastern  coal  fields  of  Indiana,  and 
to  the  great  anticlinal  axis  of  the  Silurian  ridge,  which  divides  the  coal 
basin  of  the  East  from  that  of  the  West.  As  Dr.  D.  Dale  Owen  has  re- 
marked in  his  report,  the  dip  appears  continuous  and  remarkably  uni- 
form, and  unbroken  in  Indiana,  varied  only  by  slight  undulations.  My 
explorations  for  the  Illinois  and  Kentucky  coal  fields,  farced  me  to 
admit  the  same  conclusion  for  the  whole  area  of  the  western  coal  basin. 
This  is  of  importance  for  directing  the  researches  for  workable  coal 
strata.  As  the  eastern  borders  of  the  coal  measures  of  Indiana  are  well 

*  These  measures  are  approximative.  The  declivity  and  current  of  the  Ohio  river  is  not 
taken  into  account.  An  exact  appreciation  of  the  dip  at  divers  places  can  not  be  taken  but 
by  a  topographical  survey. 


OF  INDIANA.  313 


marked,  the  distance  of  a  certain  place  westward  of  their  line  may  ap- 
proximately indicate  its  geological  horizon. 

DUBOIS  COUNTY. 

On  our  way  from  Rockport  to  Jasper,  we  passed,  in  the  northern  part 
of  Spencer  county,  a  band  of  broken  hills,  formed  by  the  hard  sand- 
stone of  the  Mahoning.  Coal  No.  4  may  be  found  at  the  base  of  these 
hills,  of  a  good  workable  thickness.  On  section  19,  township  4  south, 
range  5  west,  a  bed  of  coal  about  three  feet  thick  is  worked  under  a 
stratum  of  one  foot  of  sandstone,  which  makes  its  roof.  The  coal  has, 
at  its  top,  a  few  inches  of  brashy  coal,  with  undeterminable  remains  of 
plants,  and  at  its  base  a  band  of  sulphuret,  with  large  pieces  of  fossilized 
wood,  especially  Sigillaria  Menardi.  This  species,  the  only  one  which 
could  be  determined,  is  especially  abundant  with  coal  No.  3.  From  the 
assertion  of  the  miners,  the  roof  of  sandstone  is  often  replaced  by  cal- 
careous concretions,  clay,  iron  ore  or  bitumen.  This  fact  confirms  the 
palseontological  evidence. 

Near  Huntingburgh,  I  examined  at  a  forge,  specimens  of  an  excellent 
coal,  worked  in  the  vicinity  of  Ferdinand  P.  0.  This  coal  bears  on  its 
horizontal  surface  a  quantity  of  leaves  of  Lepidodendron  and  blades  of 
Lepidostrobus,  preserved  in  charcoal.  These  are  characteristic  species  of 
coal  No.  1  B.  This  coal  is  a  compact,  very  hard,  dry  splint  coal,  free  from 
sulphuret.  It  is  much  valued  in  the  country  for  the  forge.  At  Hun- 
tingburgh I  saw,  at  another  blacksmith's,  specimens  of  another  coal 
opened  six  miles  west  of  that  place.  This  coal  has  much  sulphur,  and 
is  shaly.  It  looks  like  a  poor  quality  of  coal  No.  4,  or  perhaps  No.  3. 

From  Huntingburgh  to  Jasper,  the  country  is  broken  by  hills  of  a 
hard  sandstone,  containing  petrified  trunks  of  fern  trees,  (Psaroniusj) 
which,  until  now,  have  been  found  only  in  connection  with  the  Maho- 
ning. As  this  sandstone  continues  to  Jasper,  the  coal  opened  or  exposed 
at  the  base  of  the  hills,  at  and  around  this  place,  should  be  referable  to 
No.  4.  This  conclusion  does  not  agree  with  the  position  of  Jasper  in 
regard  to  its  distance  from  the  border  of  the  coal  basin.  It  would  lead 
us  to  expect  here  rather  a  lower  coal.  The  two  banks  opened  near  Jas- 
per, only  18  inches  thick,  did  not  show  any  characters  in  the  accom- 
panying strata  by  which  their  geological  horizon  could  be  ascertained. 
They  were  covered  with  water  at  the  time  when  we  passed  them.  The 
sandstone  overlying  the  coal  is  blackened  by  broken  fragments  of  plants, 
transformed  into  charcoal,  as  is  sometimes  the  sandstone  overlying  coal 


314  GEOLOGICAL    RECONNOISSANCE. 

No.  2.  At  about  one  mile  distance  from  the  coal,  and  nearly  at  the 
same  level,  I  was  shown  a  thin  bed  of  fossiliferous  hard  limestone.  As 
the  coal  at  Jasper  is  thin,  and  interposed  between  two  banks  of  sand- 
stone, its  working  can  not  be  remunerative.  A  better  coal  might  be 
found  by  boring  at  a  lower  level;  but,  from  the  impossibility  of  ascer- 
taining the  exact  horizon  of  Jasper,  I  can  not  tell  with  reliability  at 
what  depth  the  coal  No.  1  B.  would  be  found. 

From  Jasper  to  Portersville,  the  sandstone  disappears,  and  the  coun- 
try is  more  even  or  less  broken.  The  dip  between  these  two  places  ap- 
pears to  be  a  little  more  directed  to  the  south.  Hence  the  coal,  at  Jas- 
per, ought  to  be  at  a  higher  geological  horizon  than  at  Portersville. 
The  coal,  at  this  last  place,  is  exposed  in  the  creeks,  a  little  above  high 
water  level  of  White  river.  Just  near  the  town,  in  the  bottom  of  the 
creek,  the  coal  two  feet  thick  is  overlaid  by  five  feet  of  black,  mica- 
ceous, coarse  shales,  generally  very  bituminous,  sometimes  passing  to 
blackened  shaly  sandstone.  From  the  few  pieces  which  could  be  loos- 
ened and  examined,  they  do  not  appear  to  contain  any  fossils.  These 
shales  are  overlaid  by  a  thick  bank  of  limestone,  very  variable  in  its 
composition  and  appearance  but  always  fossiliferous.  It  is  either  black, 
compact,  of  a  smooth  even  fracture,  or  mixed  with  large  pieces  of  flint, 
or  even  entirely  transformed  to  flint.  At  other  places  it  is  gray,  coarse, 
and  somewhat  crystalline.  It  generally  passes  to,  or  is  even  entirely 
replaced  by  a  soft,  argillaceous,  buff  colored,  compact  clay  or  shales, 
containing  the  same  fossils  as  the  limestone.  These  numerous  trans- 
formations, with  some  others,  still  characterize  the  limestone  and  bur- 
stone  of  Ohio  and  Kentucky,  which  overlies  coal  No.  1  C.,  to  which 
the  coal  around  Portersville  is  referred,  without  doubt,  from  palseon- 
tological  and  lithological  evidence.  This  coal,  near  the  creek,  is  at 
some  places  overlaid  with  a  bed  40  feet  thick  of  buff-colored  clay  shales, 
mixed  with  fossils  and  pieces  of  silex.  On  section  27,  township  1  north, 
range  5  west,  one  and  one  half  miles  east  of  Portersville,  the  same  coal 
bank  is  three  and  a  half  to  four  feet  thick,  and  immediately  covered  by 
a  few  feet  of  flaggy,  gray,  coarse,  fossiliferous  limestone,  good  for  lime, 
and  apparently  also  for  constructions.  The  coal  is  hard,  black,  and  of 
fine  appearance,  but  it  is  mixed  with  sulphuret,  bands  of  mineral  char- 
coal and  sulphur.  By  exposure  it  is  covered  with  a  white  efflorescence 
and  decomposes.  Above  the  limestone  there  is  a  bed  of  shaly  sandstone, 
(partly  covered,)  thirty  to  forty  feet  high.  From  the  assertion  of  the 
miners,  there  is  still  a  thin  coal  higher  than  the  sandstone.  But  it  was 
covered,  and  could  not  be  examined.  It  is  referable  to  coal  No.  2,  per- 


OF  INDIANA.  315 


haps  the  same  as  the  coal  of  Jasper.  At  another  exposure,  near  the 
ferry,  the  coal  two  feet  eight  inches  thick  is  worked  for  a  saw  mill. 
The  coal  is  still  poorer  than  the  former,  full  of  sulphuret  and  of  char- 
coal, oxidated  by  infiltrations  of  iron  and  shales.  Its  roof  is  formed  by 
four  to  five  feet  of  black,  coarse  shales,  of  the  same  nature  and  appear- 
ance as  those  of  the  first  exposure  in  the  creek,  and  the  black  shales  are 
overlaid  by  forty  feet  cf  sandstone,  separated  in  numerous  layers  by 
their  bands  of  clay,  and  without  any  trace  of  limestone.  The  distance 
from  this  outcrop  to  the  former,  in  the  creek,  is  no  more  than  one  fourth 
of  a  mile. 

We  have  thus,  for  a  bed  of  coal  evidently  on  the  same  geological 
horizon,  such  differences  in  the  overlying  strata,  that,  judging  from 
their  appearance,  it  would  be  impossible  to  consider  the  different  coal 
banks  as  equivalent.  At  one  place,  black  shales,  limestone,  chert,  and 
buff  colored  clay,  with  fossils  and  no  sandstone.  At  another,  coarse, 
gray  limestone,  without  black  slabs,  and  with  a  high  bank  of  sandstone; 
at  a  third  exposure,  black  slabs  and  sandstone,  without  a  trace  of  lime- 
stone. Coal  No.  I  C.  is,  from  its  accompanying  strata,  a  true  Proteus, 
and,  as  the  shales  do  not  contain  any  fossil  plants,  it  is  one  of  the  most 
difficult  to  identify  from  lithological  appearances.  Its  only  constant 
character  is  the  inferior  quality  of  its  coal.  It  was  formed  at  a  time  of 
repeated  local  disturbances,  mostly  in  deep  marshes,  often  inundated  by 
marine  water.  Nevertheless,  it  is  very  extensively  formed,  and  some- 
times preserves  a  workable  thickness  of  four  to  five  feet,  over  vast 
areas,  and  without  any  change,  except  in  the  strata  overlying  it. 

From  what  we  have  seen  of  the  measures  of  Dubois  county,  it  ap- 
pears that,  in  its  south-western  part,  coal  No.  4  can  be  found  at  the  base 
of  the  hills  of  sandstone,  but  that  only  the  sub-conglomerate  coal,  with 
coal  No.  1  A,  1  B  and  1  C,  crop  out  in  the  north,  according  to  differ- 
ent meridians.  Of  course  the  sub-conglomerate  coal  is  seen  above  the 
sub-carboniferous  limestone,  along  the  eastern  limits;  coal  No.  i  A,  1 
B  and  1  C,  occupying  the  middle  part,  and  the  north-western  borders 
of  the  county.  It  is  even  possible  that  the  distribution  of  the  coal 
measures  might  be  the  same  in  the  southern  parts  of  Dubois  county. 

PIKE  COUNTY. 

The  coal  banks  exposed  or  opened  in  the  northern  part  of  this  county, 
near  Kinderhook,  are  referable  to  the  same  horizon  as  those  of  Porters- 
ville,  or  to  coal  No.  1  C.     The  first  bank  examined  is  two  miles  eotith- 
20 


316  GEOLOGICAL  RECONNOISSAXCE 

west  of  Kinderhook,  on  the  property  of  Mr.  James  R.  Thomas.  The 
coal,  three  to  four  feet  thick,  has  a  roof  of  black,  bituminous,  fossilifer- 
ous  shales.  It  is  not  of  an  inferior  quality,  has  a  great  deal  of  char- 
coal and  sulphur,  and  is  easily  disintegrated  when  it  is  exposed  to  at- 
mospheric influence. 

One  and  a  half  miles  south-west  of  Kinderhook,  the  same  coal  is  ex- 
posed on  the  property  of  Dr.  Posey.  At  this  place,  and  along  the  creek, 
the  coal  is  apparently  six  to  seven  feet  thick;  but  it  is  mixed  with  bands 
of  shales  or  shale-partings,  of  various  thicknesses,  and  also  with  bands 
of  sulphuret.  It  is  of  the  same  quality  as  the  former.  It  is  first  over- 
laid by  a  few  inches  of  soft,  crumbling  shales,  entirely  formed  of  small 
shells  and  sulphuret  of  iron ;  and  above  this  by  three  or  four  feet  of  very 
black,  bituminous,  coarse  grained  and  micaceous  laminated  shales. 
These  insensibly  pass,  above,  to  an  argillaceous,  buff- colored  clay,  just 
like  that  of  the  bank  at  the  creek  of  Portersville.  The  clay  has  also 
the  same  shells,  and  passes  to  a  blue,  coarse  grained  limestone,  or  is  in- 
termixed with  bowlders  of  Septaria,  mostly  resting  upon  the  black 
shales. 

The  same  coal  is  still  opened  at  Mr.  G.  Fecklin's,  on  section  18,  town- 
ship 1  north,  range  7  west,  one  mile  from  Ivinderhook,  and  near  by,  on 
the  canal,  and  where  it  is  worked  on  Mr.  Rhode's  property.  At  this 
last  place,  the  coal  has  a  better  appearance  and  is  of  a  better  quality. 
Its  sulphuret,  mixed  with  shales,  forms  layers  thick  enough  to  enable 
the  miners  to  separate  it,  and  thus  to  clean  the  coal.  But  it  is  also 
covered  with  a  white  efflorescence  of  sulphur,  when  it  is  exposed  to  at- 
mospheric influence  for  a  long  time.  The  bank  is  five  feet  thick,  and 
overlaid  by  soft,  grayish  shales,  a  compound  of  small  shells,  and  by  a 
few  feet  of  black  shales,  of  the  same  nature  as  those  of  Dr.  Posey's 
coal. 

Near  the  town  of  Petersburg,  two  beds  of  coal  crop  out  at  the 
base  of  the  hills.  They  were  covered  by  water  at  the  time  of  our  visit, 
and  they  could  not  be  examined.  From  the  nature  of  the  overlying 
shales/  I  refer  them  to  the  same  geological  horizon  as  that  of  the  former 
banks.  The  limestone  connected  with  coal  No.  1  0  is  found  in  the 
hills  around,  with  its  various  appearances,  sometimes  black,  hard  and 
compact,  sometimes  blue  and  coarse,  sometimes  flinty. 

Between  Petersburg  and  Highland,  two  beds  of  coal  are  said  to  be 
exposed,  on  the  banks  of  White  River,  the  one  a  foot  and  a  half,  the 
other  four  feet  thick.  High  water  prevented  an  examination  of  them. 

From  the  direction  of  the  dip  of  the  measures,  coal  No.  2,  No.  3,  and 


OF    INDIANA.  317 


perhaps  No.  4,  can  be  found  in  the  southern  and  western  parts  of  Pike 
county.  The  eastern  half  of  the  county  is  mostly  occupied  by  coal  1  0. 
It  is  better  here  than  anywhere  else  in  Indiana,  especially  at  Mr.  Rhode's 
bank.  A  far  better  coal,  No.  1  B,  can  be  found  by  borings,  at  a  lower 
level,  from  25  to  55  feet  deep  below  No.  1  C. 

It  is  probable  the  coal  on  the  Patoka,  on  section  4,  township  2  south, 
range  8  west,  mentioned  by  Dr.  D.  Dale  Owen,  (in  his  first  report,  page 
40,)  as  being  ten  feet  thick,  is  the  equivalent  of  coal  1  0.  This  coal, 
especially  where  it  becomes  united  to  coal  1  B,  or  is  parted  by  shales  or 
clay,  becomes  very  thick:  but  it  is  only  a  good  workable  coal  for  a  part 
of  its  thickness.  I  have  seen  it  in  Kentucky  about  80  feet  thick,  com- 
posed of  alternate  layers  of  very  black  bituminous  shales  and  coal, 
where  the  thickest  workable  band  of  coal  was  only  two  feet;  and  thus 
a  nearly  useless  mass  of  matter.  I  regretted  much  that  the  coal  on  the 
Patoka  could  not  be  examined.  But,  at  the  time  of  our  explorations, 
White  Biver  was  out  of  its  banks,  and  some  of  the  most  interesting 
coal  banks  of  the  country,  especially  along  White  River,  were  covered 
by  water  and  unapproachable. 

DAVIESS    COUNTY. 

Four  miles  south-east  of  Washington,  on  Mr.  Nelson  Jackson's  prop- 
erty, a  bed  of  coal,  eighteen  inches  thick,  has  been  somewhat  worked 
by  stripping.  When  we  visited  the  place,  the  trenches  were  under 
water,  and  I  could  not  even  see  any  piece  of  the  shales.  As  no  rocks 
are  exposed  in  the  vicinity  of  this  coal,  its  position  is  of  course  undeter- 
mined. It  is  probably  coal  No.  1  A  ;  at  least  as  much  as  can  be  seen 
from  the  direction  of  the  dip,  and  from  the  topographical  place  of  this 
coal. 

At  Washington,  coal  No.  1  B  is  worked  by  shafts  about  twenty  feet 
deep,  at  some  places;  or  at  the  base  of  the  hills,  by  tunnels  entering  the 
exposed  bank.  It  is  overlaid  by  a  bank,  (22  feet  thick,)  of  soft,  gray, 
laminated  shales,  a  kind  of  soapstone,  containing  remains  of  fossil  plants. 
The  species  found  are  few,  only  blades  of  Lepidostrobus  and  leaves  of 
JLcpidodendron,  which  mostly  characterize  the  coal  of  this  geological 
horizon.  The  too  soft  nature  of  these  shales  probably  prevented  the 
preservation  of  the  fossil  plants  which  at  some  other  places  are  very 
abundant.  The  coal  is  four  feet  thick,  a  fine,  hard,  compact,  dry,  nearly 
splint  coal,  free  of  sulphuret,  and  in  great  demand,  especially  for  the 
grate  and  the  furnaces.  It  is  only  to  be  regretted  that  the  shales  over- 


318  GEOLOGICAL   RECONNOISSANCE 


lying  the  coal  are  here  so  soft.  For,  at  the  places  where  the  roof  is  not 
thick,  the  percolation  of  water  has  caused  the  disintegration  and  the 
oxidation  of  the  coal,  which  then  loses  a  little  of  its  value.  This  bank 
is  pretty  extensively  worked  on  Mr.  S.  B.  Legg's  property,  and  also  on 
Messrs.  Church  &  Co.'s.  It  is  underlaid  by  a  thick  bed  of  hard,  black 
tire  clay,  good  for  pottery.  It  is  said  that  limestone  is  found  in  the  hills 
around  Washington.  In  that  case,  coal  No.  1  C  can  be  found  in  con- 
nection with  it. 

A  boring  made  a  short  distance  from  Mr.  Legg's  coal,  passed  through 
ten  feet  of  yellow  soft  clay,  eight  feet  of  sandstone,  and  132  feet  of 
soapstone,  to  an  eighteen  inch  coal.  Perhaps  this  low  coal  might  be 
referable  to  No.  1  A.  But  the  distance  to  1  B,  which,  at  Mr.  Legg's,  is 
twenty- two  feet  below  the  surface,  would  be  about  130  feet,  or  far  too 
great,  according  to  the  average  distance,  which  is  no  more  than  thirty 
feet.  As  no  written  and  exact  records  have  been  taken  of  this  boring, 
and  as  there  may  be  some  mistake  in  the  figures,  it  is  useless  to  specu- 
late about  the  position  of  this  thin  coal. 

From  information  received  at  Washington,  it  appears  that  eight 
miles  north-east  of  this  place,  on  the  road  to  Dover  Hill,  there  is  a  coal 
eighteen  inches  to  two  feet  thick,  considered  excellent  for  the  smith. 
From  the  direction  of  the  dip  and  the  meridian  of  this  coal,  it  is  refer- 
able to  the  sub-conglomerate  bed ;  but  it  was  not  examined.  Another 
bank,  referable  to  the  same  geological  horizon,  is  exposed  on  the  Ohio 
and  Mississippi  railroad,  eight  miles  east  of  Washington.  Fourteen 
miles  north  of  this  same  place  a  coal  bank,  said  to  be  six  feet  thick,  is 
exposed  and  overlaid  by  eight  feet  of  limestone.  It  is  referable  from 
its  limestone  and  its  position  to  coal  No.  1  C. 

From  these  data,  and  from  our  examination  in  Daviess  county,  it  ap- 
pears that  the  sub-conglomerate  coal  bed  is  found  along  the  eastern 
margins  of  the  county;  that  the  central  line,  from  north  to  south, 
'  marks  the  general  out-crops  of  coal  1  A  and  1  B,  and  that  coal  No.  1 
C,  with  No.  2  and  No.  3,  are  found  exposed  along  the  western  boundary 
line. 

MARTIN  COUNTY. 

Mount  Pleasant  is  built  at  the  top  of  a  thick,  hard,  gritty  sandstone, 
about  140  feet  high,  which,  at  first  sight,  I  was  disposed  to  refer  to  the 
Mahoning  sandstone,  on  account  of  the  total  absence  of  conglomerate 
or  of  pebbles  in  the  sandstone.  But  in  comparing  the  position  and  the 


OF    INDIANA.  319 


lithological  appearance  of  the  various  coal  strata,  examined  before  and 
after,  and  in  closely  examining  the  gritty  compound  of  the  coarse  hard 
sandstone  at  the  base  of  the  hills  of  Mount  Pleasant,  it  became  evident 
that  either  the  whole  thickness  of  this  formation,  or  at  least  its  lower 
part  forming  a  bank  or  escarpment  of  seventy-five  feet  high  belongs  to 
the  Millstone  Grit  formation. 

Just  at  the  base  of  this  bank  of  sandstone,  on  Mr.  T.  B.  Bryant's 
property,  a  bed  of  coal,  eighteen  inches  to  two  feet  thick,  has  been 
opened  for  examination.  It  has  the  character  of  the  sub-conglomerate 
coal,  being  shaly;  but  very  compact,  bituminous,  and  excellent  for  the 
forge.  Another  bed  of  coal  is  said  to  have  been  opened  at  the  top  of 
this  sandstone ;  but  the  place  is  now  covered  and  plowed  up.  If  a  coal 
is  found  there  it  is  probably  No.  1  A,  thin  coal. 

On  another  side  of  the  hills,  near  White  river,  on  section  6,  town- 
ship 2  north,  range  4  west,  and  on  Mr.  Reilley's  property,  two  coal  beds 
are  exposed  at  the  base  of  the  hills.  The  upper  one  is  a  streak  only  a 
few  inches  thick,  with  some  black  shales;  the  lowTer  one  is  one  foot 
thick,  and  separated  from  the  former  by  four  feet  of  sandstone.  These 
are  evidently  two  members  of  the  same  coal  locally  divided.  At  some 
places,  where  this  coal  has  been  marked  by  stripping,  it  has  been  found 
two  feet  thick  in  its  greatest  development.  The  coal  is  exactly  the 
same  in  appearance  as  the  sub-conglomerate  coal,  very  compact,  some- 
what shaly,  free  from  sulphuret  and  especially  valuable  for  the  forge. 
It  is  generally  overlaid  by  soft  black  ferruginous  shales,  passing  occa- 
sionally to  a  yellowish  soapstone,  containing  pebbles  of  carbonate  of 
lime,  and  marked  generally  with  the  fossil  remains  of  leaves  of  Lepi- 
dodendron.  The  sub-carboniferous  limestone  is  exposed  four  miles  east 
of  this  place. 

From  Mount  Pleasant  to  Dover  Hill  the  sandstone  becomes  more  and 
more  conglomeratic,  or  mixed  with  pebbles  of  quartz.  On  section  16, 
township  3  north,  range  4  west,  we  find  the  base  of  the  Millstone  Grit, 
a  coarse  conglomerate,  and  under  it  a  coal  bed  one  foot  thick,  separated 
from  the  conglomerate  by  four  feet  of  yellow  soapstone,  or  soft  shales, 
with  the  fossil  plants  of  this  horizon.  The  base  of  the  Millstone  Grit 
is  here  formed  of  a  bed  of  carbonate  of  iron,  in  irregular  agglutinated 
pieces,  which  is  about  four  feet  thick,  and  appears  a  valuable  ore.  Near 
the  out-crop  of  the  coal,  on  the  same  section,  and  on  Mr.  O'Brian's 
property,  a  fine  chalybeate  spring  comes  out  from  under  a  band  of  fifty 
feet  of  conglomerate  sandstone. 

Dover  Hill  is  like  Mount  Pleasant,  at  the  top  of  hills  of  the  Millstone 


320  GEOLOGICAL  RECONNOISSANCE 


Grit  formation,  about  130  above  the  sub-conglomerate  coal,  opened  at 
their  base.  Here  the  coal  is  three  feet  thick;  but  its  top  is  brashy,  and 
its  whole  mass  still  more  shaly  than  it  is  generally  at  the  other  places. 
It  is  nevertheless  very  good  for  the  forge.  The  section  from  Dover  Hill 
to  the  coal  is  as  follows : 

FKET. 

1.  Covered  space 10 

2.  Millstone  Grit,  conglomerate 70 

3.  Sandstone  and  ferruginous  shales 20 

4.  Carbonate  of  iron,  (conglomeratic  iron  ore,) 3 

5.  Chocolate  colored  soft  shales,  with  plants 7 

6.  Coal  somewhat  shaly,  (some  layers  very  fine,) 3 

7.  Ferruginous  fire-clay 10 

8.  Sub-carboniferous,  oolitic  limestone,  to  creek 5 

On  both  sides  of  the  place  where  this  coal  is  worked  there  is  a  bank 
of  very  soft,  ochrous  clay,  a  true  powder,  as  fine  as  flour,  without  any 
trace  of  coal,  though  occupying  exactly  the  same  horizon.  It  is  over- 
laid by  a  clay  iron  ore,  which  looks  as  if  it  had  been  roasted.  I 
consider  this  local  formation  as  the  result  of  the  burning  of  the  bank 
of  coal  at  places  where  it  was  exposed  along  the  creek.  The  destruc- 
tion by  fire  of  banks  of  coal,  sometimes  on  a  large  area,  has  left  more 
frequent  traces  than  it  is  generally  supposed.  I  have  seen,  in  Indi- 
ana, Illinois  and  Kentucky,  many  localities  where  the  peculiar  nature 
of  the  strata,  a  kind  of  metamorphism,  local  displacement,  land  slips, 
hollows,  &c.,  could  be  explained  only  by  the  agency  of  the  fire,  in  de- 
stroying the  coal  banks.  Such  conflagrations  are  easily  accounted  for 
in  a  country  where  coal  banks  are  often  exposed  on  the  slopes  of  the 
hills,  or  covered  only  by  a  thin  bed  of  shales,  where  the  surface  is  re- 
peatedly set  on  fire. 

The  soft  ferruginous  shales,  overlying  the  coal  at  Dover  Hill,  are 
marked  with  numerous  remains  of  some  species  of  fossil  plants  charac- 
teristic of  this  low  coal,  especially  the  bank  and  the  leaves  of  Lepido- 
dendrmi.  In  ascending  the  creek  the  bed  of  conglomeratic  iron  ore, 
which  overlies  these  shales,  takes  its  normal  appearance  and  becomes 
two  to  three  feet  thick.  As  it  is  mixed  with  sandstone,  the  ore  (a  hem- 
atite) is  probably  of  no  great  value.  But  it  may  be  found  better  at 
other  places  in  the  neighborhood. 

About  130  feet  above  the  sub-conglomerate  coal,  at  the  level  of  the 
village  of  Dover  Hill,  another  bed  of  coal,  about  two  feet  thick,  is  ex- 


OF   INDIANA.  321 


posed  under  a  bank  of  hard  gritty  sandstone,  (quarried  for  buildings). 
It  overlies  a  bed  of  hard  fire-clay,  which  looks  like  a  bastard  limestone, 
and  appears  to  be  separated  from  the  sandstone  by  one  or  two  feet  of 
soft  shales,  having  the  color  and  the  appearance  of  those  of  the  lower 
coal.  As  I  could  obtain  only  for  examination  a  few  bits  of  shales,  I 
was  unable  to  ascertain  whether  the  coal  is  the  equivalent  of  No.  I  A, 
the  first  coal  above  the  conglomerate,  or  is  a  coal  locally  formed  in  the 
Millstone  Grit  formation.  I  rather  think  that  the  first  supposition  is 
right,  because  no  coal  like  this  has  been  observed  in  the  western  coal 
fields,  in  the  strata  of  the  true  Millstone  Grit  formation.  Coal  No.  I 
A  is  often  overlaid  by  a  hard  gritty  sandstone,  and  generally  it  has  in 
its  shales,  remains  of  plants,  leaves  and  cones  of  Lepidodendron,  some 
of  which  are  of  the  same  species  as  those  of  the  sub-conglomerate  coal. 

I  was  very  anxious  to  ascertain  the  formation  of  a  bed  of  coal  under 
the  sub-carboniferous  limestone.  By  the  kindness  and  in  the  company 
of  Dr.  Delamater  and  his  brother,  we  had  an  opportunity  of  visiting, 
on  White  river,  high  banks  of  sub-carboniferous  limestone,  formed  in 
part  of  a  beautiful  marble.  Just  under  the  upper  banks  of  this  Archi- 
medes limestone  there  is  a  thin  bed  of  coal,  said  to  be  about  one  foot 
thick,  which,  unfortunately,  was  covered,  and  of  which  we  could  see 
only  a  few  pieces.  That  coal  has  been  formed  at  this  geological  hori- 
zon is  out  of  doubt.  In  Illinois  numerous  and  beautiful  specimens  of 
fossil  plants  of  the  Coal  Measures  have  been  found  in  the  sub -carbo- 
niferous sandstone,  just  under  the  upper  Archimedes  limestone.  And 
in  Kentucky,  traces  of  coal  have  been  seen  in  pockets  at  the  same  geo- 
logical horizon.  But  those  rare  remains  of  the  primitive  vegetation  of 
the  Coal  Measures  can  not,  in  any  age,  contradict  the  assertion  of  Dr. 
D.  Dale  Owen,  that  no  workable  bed  of  coal  can  be  found  below  or 
within  the  sub-carboniferous  limestone.  On  the  contrary,  the  recent 
and  careful  explorations  of  most  of  the  coal  fields  of  the  different 
States  have  confirmed  an  assertion  which  he  regarded  as  a  geological 
axiom. 

.  From  this  it  is  evident  that  though  the  sub-conglomerate  coal  is  well 
developed  at  some  places  in  Martin  county,  and  can  be  found  from  two 
to  three  feet  thick  over  its  whole  western  range,  (range  4  west,)  there 
is  no  chance  whatever  to  reach  any  lower  coal  by  borings  From  the 
higher  coal  strata,  ISTo.  1  A,  and  perhaps  No.  I  B,  may  be  found  near 
the  top  of  the  hills,  along  the  western  borders  of  the  county.  The 
limit  of  the  Coal  Measures  follows  mostly  along  the  western  line  of 
range  8  west. 


322  GEOLOGICAL  RECONNOISSANCE 


GREENE  COUNTY. 

In  entering  this  county  the  same  limit  of  the  Coal  Measures  makes 
a  bend  to  the  west,  reaching,  near  Bloomfield,  the  western  line  of  range 
4  west,  and  bends  again  to  the  eastward,  entering  Owen  county  at  the 
same  parallel  as  it  occupies  in  Martin  county. 

Six  to  seven  miles  south-west  of  Bloomfield  the  sub-conglomerate 
coal  is  opened  at  many  places,  near  the  top,  and  in  some  crevices  of 
high  hills  of  the  sub-carboniferous  and  Millstone  Grit  formation. 

On  the  property  of  Mr.  "W".  M.  Combs,  where  I  first  examined  the 
coal,  it  is  eighteen  inches  thick,  overlying  a  bed  of  sub-carboniferous 
limestone,  from  which  it  is  separated  only  by  a  stratum  of  fire-clay.  It 
is  covered  by  a  -bank  of  sandstone,  two  to  three  feet  thick,  mixed  with 
bowlders  of  sandy  iron  ore.  It  has  broken  remains  of  fossil  plants. 
The  coal  is  not  worked,  and  its  appearance  is  the  same  as  at  other  places. 
Its  distance  from  the  top  of  the  hill  is  130  feet. 

Three  and  a  half  miles  north-west  of  Scotland,  on  section  16,  town- 
ship 6  north,  range  4  west,  the  same  coal  is  worked  by  a  tunnel.  It  is 
here  in  two  banks,  separated  by  a  clay  parting.  The  section  is : 

FKET.   IXCHKS. 

Hard,  gritty  sandstone,  with  remains  of  plants.. 20 

Coal 2     3 

Shaly  tire-clay 1     3 

Clay .- 1     3 

Fire-clay  to  the  bed  of  the  creek. 

The  coal  is  very  fine,  but  has  all  the  characters  of  the  sub-conglome- 
rate coal,  being  somewhat  shaly.  The  sandstone  overlies  the  coal  im- 
mediately, and,  though  hard,  contains  streaks  of  sandy  iron  ore,  with 
broken  remains  of  large  plants. 

About  one  mile  south,  on  section  21,  township  6  north,  range  4  west, 
the  coal  on  Mr.  Phelps'  property  is  opened  at  four  different  places,  at 
a  very  short  distance  from  each  other.  The  coal  is  generally  three  to 
four  feet  thick  in  a  single  bank;  but  its  top,  five  to  six  inches  of  thick- 
ness, is  only  brash  coal,  and  it  is  intermixed  with  some  streaks  of  sul- 
phuret.  At  the  first  opening  the  coal  is  overlaid  with  soft  shales, 
marked  with  fossil  plants  and  a  band  of  clay  iron  ore,  just  as  at  Dover 
Hill.  At  another  opening  the  c"oal  is  covered  by  a  ferruginous  con- 
glomerate, or  rather  a  pudding  stone,  mixed  with  remains  of  broken 


OF  INDIANA.  323 


Btems  of  Catamites  and  other  plants.  All  the  coal  banks  examined  on 
these  hills  are  exactly,  by  barometrical  measures,  at  the  same  level,  and 
there  is  no  doubt  that  all  belong  to  the  same  geological  horizon,  though 
every  one  of  them  is  overlaid  by  a  different  kind  of  rock,  by  shales,  or 
by  sandstone,  or  by  conglomeratic  iron  ore.  All  the  modifications  of 
the  roof  of  the  sub-conglomerate  coal  may  be  recalled  to  two  distinct 
forms.  Either  the  shales  are  present,  between  the  sandstone  base  of 
the  Millstone  Grit  and  the  coal,  or  these  shales  are  not  found  or  only 
very  thin,  a  kind  of  brash  coal,  and  the  sandstone  immediately  overlies 
the  coal.  In  the  first  case  the  shales  are  soft,  more  or  less  marked  with 
remains  of  fossil  plants,  more  or  less  bituminous  and  laminated,  and 
accordingly  of  various  color  and  hardness.  Iron  ore  is  always  found 
in  connection  with  these  shales,  either  overlying  them  in  a  separate 
bed,  or  mixed  with  them  in  pebbles  of  carbonate  of  iron.  Sometimes 
the  bed  of  iron  ore  covers  the  coal,  in  the  absence  of  the  shales  in  the 
form  of  a  conglomeratic  and  sandy  iron  ore.  In  the  second  case,  when 
the  sandstone  immediately  overlies  the  coal,  it  is  ferruginous  at  its  base, 
contains  broken  remains  of  plants,  and  when  it  becomes  shaly  forms  a 
whitish  agglomeration  of  carbonized  plants,  sand  and  iron.  Of  course 
these  appearances  are  locally  modified  in  many  ways. 

The  thickness  and  the  good  quality  of  the  sub-conglomerate  coal,  in 
this  county,  is  the  best  proof  that  the  base  of  the  Coal  Measures  ought 
to  be  marked  in  the  west  by  the  sub-carboniferous  limestone  and  not  by 
the  Millstone  Grit  formation.  Coal  strata  above  the  conglomerate  are 
generally  thicker,  but  scarcely  more  reliable  and  more  extensively 
formed  than  this  sub-conglomerate  coal. 

In  descending  the  hills,  on  the  road  to  Bloomfield,  the  entire  section 
of  800  feet,  shows  only  alternate  strata  of  shales  and  sub-carboniferous 
sandstone,  without  a  trace  of  limestone,  while  at  some  other  places,  as 
in  Martin  county,  the  sub- carboniferous  limestone  is  forty  to  fifty  feet 
thick.  The  sub-carboniferous  measures  are  still  far  more  variable  in 
their  extent,  their  thickness,  and  the  compound  of  their  material  than 
the  true  Coal  Measures. 

Near  Bloomfield,  one-fourth  of  a  mile  north-east  of  Richland  furnace, 
a  coal  bed  has  been  opened  two  to  three  feet  thick.  It  has  a  roof  of 
soft  chocolate  shales,  with  remains  of  fossil  plants.  At  some  places  the 
coal  is  overlaid  by  abed  of  iron  ore,  which,  in  the  hills  around,  becomes 
four  to  five  feet  thick,  and  is  worked  for  the  furnace.  The  coal  is,  in 
places,  overlaid  by  a  kind  of  bastard  limestone,  or  hardened  fire-clay, 
which  much  resembles  that  of  the  upper  coal  at  Dover  Hill.  As  it  was 


324  GEOLOGICAL   RECONNOISSANCE 

covered  at  the  time  of  our  visit,  I  was  unable  to  ascertain  its  true  geo- 
logical horizon.  It  is  still  probably  the  sub-conglomerate  coal.  Peb- 
bles of  quartz,  evidently  derived  from  the  Millstone  Grit,  are  found  in 
the  creeks  which  run  at  the  level  of  this  coal  bed. 

The  result  of  our  researches  for  coal  in  Greene  county  may  be  sum- 
med up  as  follows :  The  sub-conglomerate  coal  crops  out  on  a  band  on 
the  outside  of  a  line  passing  from  Scotland  to  Bloomfield,  and  north  to 
Freedom.  Coals  Nos.  1  A,  1  B  and  1  C  have  their  line  of  outcrop  a 
little  westward  of  the  canal  from  Chesterfield  to  Worthington,  and 
northward  along  the  road  to  Bowling  Green,  On  the  western  part  of 
the  county,  within  the  limits  of  range  7  west,  coal  No.  2,  No.  3,  and 
perhaps  No.  4  may  be  found  in  the  hills,  and,  of  course,  borings  there 
may  be  made  to  coal  No.  1  B,  at  favorable  places. 

OWEN  COUNTY. 

Near  the  southern  limits  of  the  county,  on  the  road  from  Bloomfield 
to  Freedom,  about  three  miles  south  of  this  last  place,  the  sub-conglom- 
erate coal,  two  feet  thick,  is  exposed  on  the  property  of  Mr.  Bird  Light. 
It  is  overlaid  by  six  to  seven  feet  of  white  sandstone  shales,  full  of 
broken  stems,  just  as  those  of  the  Phillips'  coal.  The  sub-carbonifer- 
ous limestone  is  in  place  just  below  this  coal,  and  crops  out  all  around 
in  the  hills. 

On  the  south- wrest  quarter  of  section  33,  township  9  north,  range  4 
west,  on  the  south  side  of  White  river,  and  on  Mr.  Henry  Jackson's 
property,  I  discovered  the  same  coal  at  its  normal  geological  horizon, 
and  found  it  here  a  true,  hard,  somewhat  coarse  cannel,  apparently  very 
bituminous  and  rich  in  oil.  At  the  outcrop  this  coal  is  about  eighteen 
inches;  but  the  proprietor  asserts  that  it  had  been  worked  or  discovered 
by  a  miner,  and  found  to  be  four  feet  thick;  but  that  since  that  time  it 
had  been  lost.  The  difficulty  of  finding  this  coal  again  by  following 
the  direction  of  the  top  of  the  sub-carboniferous  limestone  was  not 
great  indeed.  But  the  search  for  the  coal  had  been  made  by  boring 
and  shafting  at  the  base  of  the  hills,  where  occasionally  some  pieces  of 
coal,  brought  down  the  steep  declivity  of  the  hill,  had  been  picked  up. 
The  horizon  of  the  coal  is  about  fifty  feet  higher  than  the  high  water 
level  of  the  river.  This  Cannel  coal  is  separated  from  the  sub-carbon- 
iferous limestone  by  four  to  five  feet  of  hard  sandstone,  rt  is  overlaid 
by  one  or  two  strata  of  hydrate  of  iron,  or  iron  ore  of  the  same  ap- 
pearance, and  perhaps  of  as  good  a  quality,  as  that  used  for  the  Pach- 


OF   INDIANA.  325 


land  furnace.  If  the  mineral  should  prove,  by  chemical  analysis,  to  be 
rich,  the  position  for  a  furnace  at  this  place,  just  on  the  border  of 
White  river,  with  an  abundance  of  fine  limestone  and  coal,  would  be 
far  more  advantageous  than  that  of  Richland. 

On  the  property  of  Mr.  James  Haton,  south-west  quarter  of  section 
2,  township  9  north,  range  4  west,  the  same  coal  has  been  found  also. 
But  it  is  covered  and  its  thickness  unknown.  It  is  accompanied,  like 
the  former,  with  iron  ore  above  it  and  sub-carboniferous  limestone 
below. 

After  passing  Freedom  I  examined,  at  a  forge,  samples  of  a  very  fine 
and  excellent  coal  obtained  from  Arney's  bank,  six  miles  west  of  the 
place.  This  coal  is  in  large,  compact,  hard  blocks,  finely  crystallized, 
free  from  sulphuret  and  charcoal,  with  its  faces  obscured  only  by  thin 
lamellae  of  selenite.  As  it  is  one  of  the  best  coals  that  we  have  seen 
till  now  in  Indiana,  I  much  regretted  that  time  did  not  permit  us  to  ex- 
amine the  locality,  and  to  ascertain  its  geological  horizon.  From  its 
appearance  the  coal  is  the  same  as  the  Ferdinand  coal,  and  referable  to 
No.  1  B.  It  is  said  to  be  only  two  feet  thick,  with  a  soft  shale  for  its 
roof. 

Tne  road  from  Spencer  to  Greencastle  is  nearly  always  on  the  sub- 
earboniferous  limestone,  which  generally  crops  out  at  the  base  of  the 
hills;  while  their  top  is  composed  of  the  Millstone  Grit  or  of  the  Drift 
which  there  becomes  pretty  thick. 

Near  Cataract  Mill,  where  the  sub-carboniferous  sandstone  in  all  its 
beautiful  varieties,  oolite,  marble,  lithographic  limestone,  &c.,  attains  a 
thickness  of  about  seventy  feet,  the  sub-conglomerate  coal  is  formed 
just  at  the  top  of  the  limestone.  It  is  two  feet  thick,  overlaid  by  saales 
and  iron  ore.  It  has  been  opened  on  sections  35  and  36,  township  12 
north,  range  4  west. 

From  information  received,  a  bed  of  coal  two  feet  thick  is  exposed 
or  worked  near  Yandalia,  and  another,  four  feet  thick,  near  Lancaster. 
The  first  is  probably  still  the  sub-conglomerate  coal,  the  other  coal  No. 
1  B.  At  least,  judging  from  the  direction  of  the  boundary  line  of  the 
Coal  Measures  in  Owen  county,  which  indicates  the  same  distribution 
of  the  coal  strata  as  in  Green  county.  The  borders  of  the  measures 
pass  a  little  outside  of  the  western  line  of  range  3  west,  and  thus  the 
sub-conglomerafe  coal  occupies  range  4  west,  and  coal  Nos.  1  A  and  1 
B  range  5  west. 


326  GEOLOGICAL   RECONNOISSANCE 


PUTNAM  COUNTY. 

Cloverdale  is  just  on  the  outside  limits  of  the  Coal  Measures ;  Green- 
castle,  on  the  contrary,  a  little  inside.  At  this  last  place  the  sub-con- 
glomerate coal  is  found  near  the  top  of  the  hills,  one  and  a  half  miles 
south-east  of  the  town,  where  it  crops  out  in  a  ravine.  The  section 
there  is : 


FEET.    IKC11ES. 


1.  Top  of  the  hill,  gritty  sandstone 25 

2.  Coarse  shaly  sandstone  6 

3.  Coal 1 

4.  Coarse  white  shaly  sandstone  and  broken  plants  3 

5.  Black,  bituminous,  micaceous  shales 8 

6.  Yellow,  soft,  micaceous  shales 10 

7.  Shaly  sandstone  ?  covered  space 9 

8.  Soft  grayish  shales,  with  pebbles  of  carbonate  of  iron,  and 

some  plan ts 10 

9.  Limestone  (sub-carboniferous)  to  level  of  creek 10 

'Ihis  section  is  very  interesting.  From  the  base  of  the  Millstone 
Grit  to  the  top  of  the  sub-carboniferous  limestone,  we  have  here  forty- 
six  feet  of  measures,  which  show  at  different  geological  horizons  some 
of  the  lithological  characters  which  have  been  observed  at  different  lo- 
calities over  the  bed  of  the  sub-conglomerate  coal.  Though  this  bed 
has  always  been  referred  to  the  same  horizon,  it  may  be  that  two  or 
more  coal  strata  can  be  formed  below  the  conglomerate  at  a  different 
level,  according  to  the  place  occupied  by  the  accompanying  strata. 
This  is  not  very  probable,  at  least  we  have  seen,  close  to  each  other, 
some  openings  of  the  sub -conglomerate  coal,  evidently  made  at  the 
same  topographical  level  or  in  the  same  bank,  and  with  the  overlying 
strata  entirely  different.  Thus,  at  an  opening  of  Mr.  Phillips'  bank,  in 
Greene  county,  the  coal  is  covered  by  a  shaly  sandstone,  resembling  the 
stratum  No.  2  of  the  above  section,  while  at  another  opening  it  is  over- 
laid by  shales  resembling  No.  5  and  No.  6  of  the  section.  It  is  certain 
that  where  the  measures,  especially  the  shales  intervening  between  the 
base  of  the  Millstone  Grit  and  the  top  of  the  sub-carboniferous  lime- 
stone, thicken  much,  two  or  even  three  beds  of  coal  may  be  found  in 
the  space.  But  the  palseontological  remains  of  each  of  these  coal 
strata  have  not  been  studied,  their  relation  to  the  coal  is  mostly  un- 


OF  INDIANA.  327 


known,  and  where  a  single  bed  of  this  sub-conglomerate  coal  is  found 
it  is  not  possible  to  fix  its  geological  horizon,  according  to  strata  which 
are  not  present.  This  question  is  merely  a  scientific  one,  and  has  not 
any  importance  for  practical  researches  in  Indiana. 

We  did  not  see  any  other  coal  in  Putnam  county  but  that  of  Green- 
castle.  Coal  No.  1  B  is  the  only  higher  coal  that  may  be  found  in  the 
county,  just  along  the  boundary  line  of  Parke  and  Clay  counties.  It 
may  be  found  of  a  good  workable  thickness  on  Walnut  and  St.  Croix 
creek,  at  the  base  of  the  hills. 

CLAY  COUNTY. 

At  Brazil  depot  coal  is  worked  by  a  shaft  sixty  feet  deep,  with  fol- 
lowing section : 


FEKT.    IXCHKS. 


1.  Soil  and  clay 20 

2.  Limestone 4 

3.  Blue  shale  and  soapstone 28 

4.  Hard  sandstone 28 

5.  Coal 3     6 

6.  White  fire-clay 6 

This  section  already  shows  that  the  coal  worked  at  Brazil  belongs  to 
one  of  the  members  of  No.  1,  probably  No.  1  A.  No  materials  taken 
out  of  the  shaft  can  give  any  indication.  But  nearly  the  whole  thick- 
ness of  these  strata  can  be  studied  in  some  ravines  one  and  a  half  miles 
north  of  the  depot.  At  this  place  the  limestone  (No.  2  of  the  section) 
is  underlaid  by  two  to  three  feet  of  black  bituminous  shales,  overlying 
coal  No.  1  C  about  two  feet  thick,  and  perfectly  well  characterized  by 
fossils,  and  by  the  poor  quality  of  its  coal.  It  is  here  only  a  compound 
of  broken  carbonized  stems,  cemented  with  oxide  of  iron,  and  a  few 
inches  of  very  bituminous  cannel  shales,  which  burn  easily  but  do  not 
consume.  From  this  bed  to  coal  No.  1  B,  of  which  the  top  only  is 
seen,  at  the  level  of  the  creek,  there  a  bank  of  soft  shales  or  soapstone, 
containing  a  few  fossils,  just  of  the  same  nature  and  appearance  as  those 
overlying  the  coal  at  Washington,  and  the  same  also  as  the  twenty- 
eight  feet  of  blue  shale  and  soapstone  of  the  section  of  the  shaft  at 
Brazil.  But  it  is  evident  that  the  coal  at  Brazil  is  still  lower  than  this 
No.  1  B,  and  thus  is  referable  to  No.  1  A.  The  white  fire-clay  under- 
lying coal  1  C  is  much  used  in  the  country  for  excellent  pottery.  This 


328  GEOLOGICAL  RECONNOISSANCE 

coal  still  crops  out  at  a  creek  near  the  depot  at  Brazil,  somewhat  lower 
than  the  level  of  the  railroad. 

From  Brazil,  to  Williamstown  and  Highland,  the  grade  of  the  rail- 
road is  upward,  contrary  to  the  dip,  which  appears  thus  somewhat 
stronger  than  it  is  generally.  Though  the  distance  between  both  places 
is  only  six  miles,  coal  No.  3  is  exposed  at  Williamstown  and  coal  No.  4 
at  Highland,  where  it  is  scarcely  thirty  feet  above  No.  3.  At  Williams- 
town  coal  No.  3  is  overlaid  by  a  bank  of  its  characteristic  black  shales; 
it  is  three  to  four  feet  thick,  but  as  it  was  not  marked,  I  could  not  ex- 
amine its  quality.  At  Mr.  Wallace's  bank,  on  section  9,  township  12 
north,  range  7  west,  coal  No.  4  is  six  to  seven  feet  thick,  immediately 
overlaid  by  a  high  bank  of  sandstone.  At  Highland  mines  the  coal  is 
about  of  the  same  thickness,  and  also  overlaid  by  sandstone.  The  top 
of  the  roof  shales  of  coal  No.  3  crops  out  in  the  creek  just  below  the 
main  coal,  and  in  the  same  section.  Mr.  Nathan  Williams  has  passed 
both  coal  beds,  No.  3  and  No.  4,  in  a  shaft  only  forty-two  feet  deep. 
The  coal  No.  4,  especially  at  Highland,  is  not  of  as  good  a  quality  as  it 
is  generally  found.  It  has  more  of  sulphuret  and  of  acid,  and  decom- 
poses under  atmospheric  influence.  This  is  probably  due  to  the  soft- 
ness of  the  Mahoning  sandstone,  which  here  is  thin,  having  been  re- 
duced by  erosions,  and  has  not  all  its  ordinary  consistence.  Where 
coal  No.  4  is  too  poor,  as  it  is  at  Highland,  it  would  be  profitable  to  try 
the  thickness  and  value  of  coal  No.  3  by  a  shaft. 

At  the  shaft  of  Mr.  Carter,  named  the  Staunton  bank,  the  coal  is 
much  better  and  has  nearly  the  true  character  of  coal  No.  4;  but  it  is 
reached  at  twenty-three  feet  from  the  surface,  and  the  sandstone  which 
covers  the  coal  is  ten  feet  thick. 

Between  Staunton  and  Cloverport,  near  the  railroad,  a  boring  was 
made  through  forty  feet  of  hard  sandstone,  and  then  abandoned.  From 
the  direction  of  the  dip  this  sandstone  is  evidently  the  Mahoning,  which 
being  lower  and  covered  there,  has  preserved  its  normal  thickness  of 
fifty  to  sixty  feet.  The  boring  has  been  stopped  apparently  at  a  short 
distance  above  the  place  of  coal  No.  4,  which  probably  would  have  been 
found  there  of  a  good  thickness  and  of  an  excellent  quality. 

At  Cloverland,  a  coal  much  intermixed  with  shales  and  horizontal 
layers  (partings)  of  laminated  clay,  is  exposed  under  a  bank  of  fifteen 
to  twenty  feet  of  soft,  black,  ^bituminous  shales,  containing  some  re- 
mains of  fishes.  I  could  find  no  trace  of  plants  in  the  shales,  and  no 
indication  whatever  which  could  fix  the  geological  horizon  of  this  coal. 
From  the  dip  of  the  strata  or  from  stratigraphical  evidence,  and  from 


OF  INDIANA.  329 


the  great  thickness  of  the  shales,  it  is  referable  to  coal  No.  5,  or  to  the 
jive  foot  coal  of  the  Kentucky  survey.  This  coal  does  not  appear  to 
have  been  formed  over  great  areas;  and,  except  near  Greenville,  Ken- 
tucky, I  have  never  seen  it  worked  with  advantage.  The  shaly  nature 
of  the  coal,  and  the  numerous  partings  which  divide  the  bank,  have 
rendered  the  mining  of  the  bank  unprofitable  at  Cloverport. 

The  dip  of  the  measures  at  Highland  is  said  to  average  fifteen  feet 
per  mile  to  the  west.  By  ascertaining  the  grade  of  the  railroad,  from 
Highland  to  Cloverport  and  to  Terre  Haute,  the  dip  can  be  measured 
easily.  As  far  as  I  could  judge  it  is  continuous  and  without  variation. 
From  this  it  is  evident  that  the  geological  position  of  Clay  county  is 
extremely  favorable  for  obtaining  coal  from  the  best  and  most  reliable 
coal  strata  of  the  measures.  From  the  eastern  to  the  western  limits, 
coal  No.  1  A  to  coal  No.  5,  or  at  least  six  beds  of  coal,  can  be  found 
cropping  out  at  the  surface  at  different  meridians.  The  line  passing 
from  Middleburg  to  Brazil  is  nearly  the  middle  line  along  which  coal 
No.  1  C,  and  in  the  deepest  hollows  No.  1  B,  crop  out.  Coal  Nos.  3,  4 
and  5  are  exposed  near  the  western  boundary  line. 

VIGO  COUNTY. 

The  shales  overlying  the  coal  of  Cloverland  follow  about  the  same 
dip  as  the  grade  of  descent  of  the  railroad  to  Terre  Haute.  At  least 
the  upper  part  of  the  black  shales  still  crops  out  in  a  ravine  on  the 
turnpike,  about  three  miles  east  of  Terre  Haute.  From  approximative 
barometric  measures,  this  place  is  twenty  feet  higher  than  the  prairie 
at  Terre  Haute.  If  then  we  admit  the  dip  to  be  fifteen  to  twenty  feet 
per  mile  westward,  as  it  is  marked  at  Highland,  the  coal  underlying 
the  black  shales,  which  have  an  average  thickness  of  twelve  to  fifteen 
feet,  should  have  its  geological  horizon  thirty-five  to  forty  feet  below 
the  Terre  Haute  prairie.  As  the  drift  here  is  more  than  fifty-three  feet 
thick  the  place  of  the  coal  is  marked  within  this  formation,  and  conse- 
quently has  been  washed  away  and  replaced  by  materials  of  recent 
formations.  Hence,  to  get  coal  at  Terre  Haute,  it  would  be  necessary 
first  to  sink  a  shaft  through  the  whole  thickness  of  the  drift,  fifty  feet 
at  least,  to  the  top  of  the  Mahoning,  and  then  to  cut  through  at  least 
fifty  feet  of  this  generally  hard  sandstone  to  reach  coal  No.  4,  which 
underlies  it.  If  it  were  even  certain  that  coal  No.  4  is  of  a  good  work- 
able thickness,  and  formed  its  supposed  geological  horizon  at  Terre 
Haute,  it  would  be  scarcely  remunerative  to  have  the  coal  worked  at  a 


330  GEOLOGICAL    RECONNOISSANCE 


depth  of  more  than  one  hundred  feet,  when  the  canal  and  the  railroad 
bring  to  Terre  Haute  an  abundance  of  coal  worked  under  the  most 
favorable  circumstances.  In  any  case  it  would  be  worth  ascertaining, 
by  a  boring,  at  what  depth  and  of  what  thickness  the  coal  No.  4  is  un- 
der the  strata  of  Terre  Haute. 

On  the  western  side  of  the  Wabash  river  two  banks  of  coal  are  ex- 
posed in  the  hills  along  the  river.  Their  geological  horizon  could  not 
be  satisfactorily  ascertained.  The  upper  one  is  at  the  top  of  a  quarry 
of  sandstone  and  limestone  below  Harrison,  near  the  Wabash.  The 
section  is : 


FEKT.    INCHES. 


Covered  space,  drift,  top  of  the  hills 10 

Coal 3-4 

Fire-clay 6 

Shaly  soft  blue  sandstone 8 

Hard  gray  limestone 2 

Sbaly  blue  sandstone 4 

Hard  limestone,  in  bank 2     6 

Sandstone  shales  or  hard  gray  metal 8     6 

Limestone 2 

Shaly  blue  sandstone 10 

Covered  space  to  the  river  bottom,  where  a  lower  coal  crops  out. 

This  alternation  of  banks  of  sandstone  and  of  limestone  is  truly  re- 
markable, and  I  have  seen  no  where  in  the  Coal  Measures  such  a  form- 
ation as  the  one  indicated  by  this  section.  The  limestone  has  no  fossil, 
or  at  least  I  could  not  find  any.  The  shales  of  the  upper  coal  are  re- 
placed by  the  Drift,  and  the  lower  coal,  worked  by  stripping  at  Mc- 
Quilkin's,  in  the  Wabash  bottom,  is  also  deprived  of  its  upper  shales. 
Hence  it  was  impossible  to  get  any  directions  either  from  palaeontology 
or  from  lithological  evidence.  In  supposing  that  the  dip  of  the  meas- 
ures follows  the  same  direction  and  grade  as  indicated  at  Highland,  it 
would  bring  here,  at  the  high-water  level  of  the  river,  the  same  coal  No. 
5  as  at  Cloverport.  But  the  course  of  the  Wabash  has  perhaps  caused 
some  change,  or  followed  a  depression  formed  by  some  disturbance,  and 
thus  the  supposition  must  be  confirmed  by  detailed  explorations.  The 
coal  of  McQuilkin  is  five  to  six  feet  thick,  with  some  brash  material 
at  its  top,  and  is  overlaid  by  black  shales  or  a  gray  bluish  sandstone, 
passing  to  limestone  and  forming  the  base  of  the  former  section.  The 
coal  has  some  sulphuret  and  shales,  and  is  not  very  compact,  owing, 


OF  INDIANA.  331 


perhaps,  to  its  proximity  to  the  surface;  but  it  is  nevertheless  of  a 
good  quality. 

As  remarked  in  the  first  report  of  D.  D.  Owen,  pages  38  and  39,  coal 
is  found  in  abundance  on  Honey  creek,  township  14  north,  range  8  west. 
From  the  position  of  the  coal,  and  the  strata  accompanying  it,  it  is  re- 
ferable to  coal  No.  5,  or  perhaps  No.  4. 

PARKE  COUNTY. 

Near  Clinton  Lock,  on  the  canal,  (south-western  corner  of  the  county,) 
a  coal  bed  is  opened  at  the  base  of  the  hills  and  extensively  worked  by 
divers  proprietors.  It  is  four  to  five  feet  thick,  of  inferior  quality, 
mixed,  like  the  coal  of  Cloverland,  with  streaks  of  sulphuret,  shales 
and  mineral  charcoal.  It  decomposes  easily  under  atmospheric  influ- 
ence. It  looks  like  a  fat  and  caking  coal,  and  is  mostly  used  at  Lafay- 
ette for  the  furnaces  of  steam  engines.  The  coal  is  overlaid  by  a  bank 
of  five  to  ten  feet  thick  of  black,  bituminous,  laminated,  hard  shales, 
containing  fossil  shells  and  some  remains  of  fishes.  Except  Stigmaria, 
I  have  not  found  any  plants  in  the  shales.  They  have  the  same  appear- 
ance and  peculiar  thickness  as  those  of  coal  No.  5,  and  also  of  coal 
No.  9.  I  refer  the  coal  with  some  doubt,  from  the  absence  of  any  re- 
liable character,  to  the  same  horizon  as  the  Cloverland  coal,  or  to  No. 
5.  The  section  of  the  strata  accompanying  this  coal  bed  is  as  follows : 

FEET. 

Drift,  top  of  the  hills......... 50 

Sandstone  and  shales 40 

Shales  and  fire-clay 20 

Black  shales,  with  septaria 10 

Coal 5-6 

Fire-clay 5 

Gray  metal  to  creek 20 

The  septaria  or  bowlders  of  carbonate  of  lime  and  iron  abound  in 
the  shales  of  Cloverland.  But  as  they  are  found  in  connection  with 
all  the  black  shales  of  blackish  or  marine  origin,  they  do  not  afford  a 
reliable  character. 

In  examining  the  outcrop  of  this  coal  behind  the  hills,  on  the  prop- 
erty of  Mr.  G.  M.  Griffith,  I  found  at  one  place  the  coal  bank  burnt  to 
some  extent,  and  the  strata,  above  and  below,  charged  by  a  kind  of 

Metamorphism,  as  if  they  had  been  exposed  to  volcanic  action. 
21 


332  GEOLOGICAL  EECONNOISSANCE 

One  mile  east  of  Ilockport,  the  county  seat,  a  high  bank  of  hard 
sandstone  is  quarried.  It  is  apparently  the  Mahoning  sandstone. 

Five  miles  south-east  of  the  same  town,  on  little  Raccoon  creek,  the 
coal  is  exposed  at  different  places.  At  Mr.  John  W.  Campbell's  bank, 
on  section  34,  township  15  north,  range  7  west,  the  coal  is  worked  just 
under  a  hard  fossiliferous  limestone,  four  to  six  feet  thick,  divided  into 
two  strata.  The  coal,  three  feet  ten  inches  thick,  is  of  a  beautiful  ap- 
pearance, very  black,  compact,  free  from  sulphuret  and  shales,  a  dry 
excellent  mineral  combustible.  From  the  quality  and  composition  of 
the  coal,  and  from  the  fossils  of  its  overlying  limestone,  it  is  evidently 
coal  No.  3.  It  is  seen  at  some  other  exposures  in  the  vicinity. 

About  one  mile  north  of  Mr.  Campbell's  bank  the  coal  is  exposed 
along  the  creek  on  a  high  bank,  where  the  section  is : 

FEET. 

Coarse,  micaceous,  soft  sandstone 35 

Shales?  (covered  space) 8 

Coal  No.  4 4 

Soft  ferruginous  shales,  with  plant  of  coal  No.  3 G 

Coal 1 

Gray  micaceous  shales  and  fire-clay  8 

At  this  exposition  coal  No.  3  and  No.  4  come  in  close  proximity, 
separated  by  shales  only,  and  without  a  limestone.  The  distribution, 
though  abnormal,  is  seen  sometimes,  and  it  even  happens  that  both 
these  coal  strata  become  united,  and  separated  only  by  a  parting  of  a 
few  inches  of  shales  and  shaly  clay. 

On  the  same  creek,  somewhat  further  up,  coal  No.  4  is  immediately 
overlaid  by  sandstone,  and  divided  in  two  or  three  thin  veins,  which 
run  and  ascend  in  the  sandstone  where  they  become  lost.  Still  further 
on,  the  sandstone  descends  to  the  level  of  the  creek,  and  coal  No.  4  is 
worked  by  trenches  or  by  stripping. 

On  Sugar  creek,  north  and  north-west  of  Annapolis,  the  country  is 
broken  by  hills  of  the  Mahoning  sandstone,  which  forms  high  banks 
along  the  creek  and  its  affluents.  At  its  base  coal  No.  4,  and  sometimes 
coal  No.  3,  are  exposed  at  many  places  with  their  general  characters, 
aud  mostly  covered  with  shales  containing  fossil  plants.  Thus  the  coal 
six  miles  below  the  narrows,  mentioned  by  Dr.  D.  Dale  Owen  (first  re- 
port, page  34,)  as  yielding  the  best  coke  seen  in  the  State  is  coal  No.  4. 
This  coal  bank,  on  the  property  of  Hon.  Wm.  G.  Coffin,  is  of  the  same 
quality.  It  is  only  two  feet  thick,  or  a  little  more,  and  gives  also  an 


OF  INDIANA.  333 


excellent  coke  much  used  in  the  country  for  burning  pottery.     It  is 
overlaid  by  shales  and  sandstone. 

At  the  Lock  on  Sugar  creek  a  high  bank,  about  150  feet,  mostly 
composed  of  soft  shales,  exposed  a  fine  section  of  the  first  part  of  the 
measures.  Coal  No.  4  is  near  the  top  of  the  bank  and  of  the  hill,  and 
is  separated  from  coal  No.  3  by  alternate  layers  of  clay  and  soft  shales, 
containing  plants.  Both  coal  strata  are  here  thin  and  of  no  value  for 
working.  It  is  generally  the  case  where  the  shales  take  a  great  devel- 
opment and  alternate  with  layers  of  fire-clay.  At  this  section  there  is 
also  no  sandstone  and  no  limestone.  The  sandstone  is  higher,  and 
large  pieces  of  limestone  are  found  in  the  creek  which  runs  at  the  base 
of  the  bluff. 

Along  Sugar  creek  to  the  eastward  the  disposition  of  the  measures  is 
the  same  for  a  few  miles.  The  Mahoning  sandstone  is  generally  cut  in 
high  perpendicular  banks,  and  overlaid  by  shales  of  coal  No.  4.  At  the 
mouth  of  Roaring  creek  this  sandstone  is  thirty -five  feet  high,  and  the 
coal  at  its  base  is  three  feet  thick,  separated  in  two  members  by  a  part- 
ing of  a  few  inches  of  shales,  containing  species  of  fossil  plants  char- 
acteristic of  this  horizon.  At  another  place,  near  by,  the  coal  is  sepa- 
rated from  the  sandstone  by  its  soft,  gray,  micaceous  and  fossiliferous 
shales.  On  the  property  of  Dr.  Dare,  on  Roaring  creek,  coal  No.  4  is 
four  feet  thick,  and  covered  by  six  feet  of  the  same  shales  as  the  former. 
Sometimes  this  coal,  as  near  Rockville,  is  broken  in  two  or  three  thin 
strata,  which  ascend  and  are  lost  in  the  hard  sandstone.  Sometimes,  also, 
the  Mahoning  sandstone  entirely  disappears,  and  is  replaced  by  a  bank 
of  shales,  and  sometimes,  also,  even  when  it  is  hard  and  well  developed, 
the  shales  are  found  under  it  without  any  trace  of  coal.  Sections  like 
those  which  have  been  cut  at  and  below  the  horizon  of  the  Mahoning 
sandstone,  and  its  accompanying  coal  strata,  are  of  the  greatest  interest 
to  the  Geologist.  Thus,  along  Roaring  creek  and  Sugar  creek,  every 
turn  of  the  creeks,  which  are  running  in  numerous  circuits,  exposes  a 
new  appearance,  a  new  change  in  the  measures.  Coal  No.  4,  for  ex- 
ample, is  seen  passing  from  a  homogenous  bank  of  coal  three  feet  thick 
to  four  thin  beds  of  coal,  separated  by  partings  of  shales  varying  from 
a  few  inches  to  three  and  four  feet  thick. 

Coal  No.  3  has  generally  its  horizon  lower  than  the  water  level  o 
the  creeks.     It  is  nevertheless  exposed  sometimes,  as  it  is  remarked 
above.     Near  the  mouth  of  Roaring  creek  it  is  separated  from  coal  No. 
4  by  forty  feet  of  shales,  containing  a  bed  of  rich  carbonate  of  iron 
ore.    This  ore  is  abundant  enough  to  supply  a  furnace;  but  it  is  very 


334  GEOLOGICAL    RECONNOISSANCE. 

hard  and  compact,  and  would  probably  be  too  refractory  in  the  fire. 
The  shales  separating  both  coal  strata  have  the  fossil  plants  of  coal 
No.  3,  and  the  coal  itself  is  seen  just  at  the  level  of  the  creek,  where  its 
upper  part,  the  only  portion  exposed,  is  a  fine  Cannel  coal.  I  could  not 
ascertain  its  thickness. 

Some  more  details  about  the  coal  of  Parke  county  are  found  in  the 
first  report  of  Dr.  D.  Dale  Owen,  pages  33  and  34. 

It  results  from  the  observations  reported  above,  that  Parke  county 
has  a  great  abundance  of  coal,  its  geological  horizon  being  mostly  be- 
tween No.  1  A  and  No.  5  coal,  and  attaining  perhaps  as  high  as  No.  9. 
On  the  eastern  side  of  the  county,  on  Raccoon  creek,  &c.,  coal  No.  1  B 
and  1  C  are  found,  at  least  most  probably  exposed,  at  some  places. 
Coal  No.  4  and  No.  3  occupy  the  middle  part  of  the  county,  and  are 
found  there  finely  developed  and  of  the  best  quality.  Near  the  Wabash 
river  and  along  its  alluvial  deposits  coal  No.  5  crops  out,  or  is  found 
near  the  surface.  Coal  No.  9  occupies  probably  the  hills  along  the 
western  boundary  line  of  the  county. 

The  Mahoning  sandstone  is  still  exposed  along  Sugar  creek,  on  the 
road  to  Covington  or  to  Lodi.  It  is  here  thirty-feet  thick  and  coal  No. 
4  is  seen  cropping  out  at  its  base. 

FOUNTAIN  COUNTY. 

One  of  the  most  interesting  sections  of  the  Coal  Measures  of  Indi- 
ana, and  also  one  of  the  most  difficult  to  explain,  is  exposed  on  a  bank 
cut  by  the  Wabash  river  near  the  mouth  of  Coal  creek.  This  section 
has  already  been  reported  by  Dr.  D.  Dale  Owen,  (first  report,  page  32,) 
and  somewhat  differs  from  my  own.  But  we  have  seen  already  for  the 
section  at  Grayville,  what  numerous  and  repeated  variations  are  found 
along  banks  of  the  Coal  Measures,  exposed  on  a  certain  extent,  and 
how  difficult  it  is  to  compare  two  sections,  even  when  they  have  been 
made  at  the  same  place.  My  own  section,  made  with  a  pocket  level 
at  a  place  where  the  bank  is  accessible,  is : 


FRET.    INCHES. 


1.  Drift  overlying  sandstone,  (covered) 10 

2.  Shaly  coal 2 

3.  Fire-clay  and  yellow  soft  shales 8 

4.  Shaly  coal 2 

5.  Black  shales  and  fire-clay 3 

6.  Soft  shales,  with  plants  and  sandstone 8 


OF  INDIANA.  335 


FEKT.   INCHES. 


7.  Coal,  shaly,  No.  3? 2    6 

8.  Hard  fire-clay,  with  stigmaria 6 

9.  Black  shales  and  some  coal 6 

10.  Limestone  overlying  fire-clay 4 

11.  Limestone 2 

12.  Coal,  (main) 4 

13.  Fire-clay 3 

14.  Yellow  shaly  sandstone  to  level  of  the  river 8 

68     6 

Dr.  Owen's  section  measures  eighty-four  feet.  But  its  lowest  stratum, 
the  yellow  sandstone,  descends  to  low  water  and  is  fifteen  feet  thick. 
The  difference  is  accordingly  reduced  to  eight  and  a  half  feet.  A  small 
difference  indeed  for  a  bank  like  this,  which  truly  varies  in  composition 
and  thickness  at  every  foot  of  its  horizontal,  exposed  surface. 

I  was  first  disposed  to  admit  the  extraordinary  multiplication  of  coal 
strata  in  this  section  as  one  of  those  divisions  to  which  coal  No.  9,  No. 
10  and  No.  11  are  sometimes  subjected,  when  the  intermediate  meas- 
ures are  wanting,  and  they  become  thus  blended  in  one  thick,  irregular 
bed,  separated  in  members  of  various  thickness  by  partings  of  shales 
and  of  limestone.  But  on  comparing  the  upper  part  of  the  bluff  with 
some  of  the  divisions  of  coal  No.  4,  at  Sugar  creek,  and  especially  by 
finding  under  sandstone  No.  6  (of  the  section)  some  fossil  plants  of 
species  generally  connected  with  coal  No.  4, 1  now  believe  that  we  have 
at  this  place  a  union  and  sub-division  of  coal  No.  4  and  No.  3,  and  even 
perhaps  of  No.  5  above.  At  ClOverland  coal  No.  5  is  divided  in  two, 
or,  in  some  places,  three  strata,  and  supposing  that  the  Mahoning  sand- 
stone has  been  here  greatly  reduced,  the  section  would  be  easily  ex- 
plained. That  there  is  no  great  anomaly  in  the  reduction  of  the  Ma- 
honing  is  proved  by  what  is  seen  along  Sugar  creek,  where  this  sand- 
stone is  sometimes  replaced  by  shales,  or  is  entirely  absent.  In  a  boring 
for  salt,  opened  from  under  the  main  coal,  or  from  the  top  of  the  sand- 
stone exposed  above  the  mean  water  level  of  the  Wabash  river,  Mr. 
Thomas,  the  proprietor  of  the  coal  bank,  reached  the  conglomerate  salt 
at  209  feet.  (See  section  in  the  first  report  of  Dr.  D.  Dale  Owen,  page 
45.)  This  would  give  us  about  300  feet  of  measures  from  the  top  of 
the  Millstone  Grit  to  the  top  of  my  section  of  Coal  creek.  In  admitting 
the  ordinary  reduction  of  the  Coal  Measures  towards  their  borders,  we 
would  have  the  average  distance  from  the  top  of  the  Millstone  Grit  to 


336  GEOLOGICAL    RECONNOISSANCE 

the  Mahoning  sandstone.  For  these  reasons  I  consider  the  strata  Noa. 
2,  3,  4  and  5  of  the  above  section  as  belonging  to  coal  No.  5 ;  the  No.  6 
of  the  section  as  representing  the  Mahoning  sandstone  and  the  shales 
of  coal  No.  4 ;  the  strata  No.  7,  8  and  9  as  belonging  to  coal  No.  4,  and 
Nos.  10  and  11  of  the  section  as  the  shales  and  the  limestone  of  coal 
No.  3,  which  underlies  them.  In  the  boring  reported  by  Dr.  Owen  a 
sandstone,  seventy  feet  thick,  is  marked  as  overlying  a  bed  of  coal  nine 
to  ten  feet  in  thickness.  The  last  is  probably  formed  by  an  alternation 
of  the  very  black,  bituminous,  somewhat  cannel  shales  of  No.  1  C, 
united  with  coal  No.  1  B,  and  the  130  feet  shales  and  sandstone  to  the 
first  salt,  represent  the  base  of  the  Coal  Measures  above  the  Millstone 
Grit.  These  conclusions  appear  to  me  satisfactory  enough ;  neverthe- 
less they  can  not  be  considered  as  perfectly  reliable.  For  it  may  be,  as 
it  has  been  stated  before,  that  the  strata  of  the  bluff  of  Coal  creek 
show  the  geological  horizon  of  the  part  of  the  measures  containing 
coal  No.  9,  No.  10  and  No.  11.  But,  if  it  was  so,  we  should  be  called 
to  explain  the  difference  of  400  feet  at  least,  which  would  be  wanting 
in  the  measures  between  the  top  of  the  Millstone  Grit  and  the  base  of 
the  Anvil  Rock  sandstone.  And  to  do  it,  it  would  be  necessary  to  sup- 
pose :  that  according  to  what  has  happened  at  many  places,  especially 
along  the  margins  of  the  Coal  Measures,  whole  strata  are  entirely 
wanting,  either  from  deundation  or  from  non-formation.  In  Illinois, 
for  example,  near  Colchester,  coal  No.  3  immediately  overlies  the  con- 
glomerate formation,  and  at  Lasalle  the  highest  strata  of  the  Coal  Meas- 
ures almost  immediately  overlie  a  formation  of  the  middle  Silurian. 
But  at  Coal  creek  the  distance  to  the  border  of  the  Coal  Measures  is 
still  too  great  to  permit  the  supposition  of  such  disposition  of  the  entire 
strata.  Moreover,  the  section  of  the  borings  through  the  lower  part  of 
the  Coal  Measures  and  of  the  sub-carboniferous  formations,  show  all 
the  principal  members  in  their  normal  position. 

The  first  salt  by  boring,  or  the  soft  brine,  as  it  is  generally  called,  is 
found  within  the  Millstone  Grit,  at  various  depths  from  its  upper  sur- 
face. In  Kentucky,  on  the  Little  Sandy  river,  near  Grayson,  it  is  found 
at  nine  feet  deep.  This  salt  water,  as  it  is  generally  called,  is  too  soft 
to  give  a  remunerative  result  by  evaporation.  The  average  distance 
from  the  top  of  the  Millstone  Grit  to  the  salt  of  the  sub-carboniferous 
sandstone  is  500  feet.  I  have  measured  it  in  many  places  in  Virginia, 
along  the  great  Kanawha  river,  in  Pennsylvania,  in  Ohio,  in  Kentucky, 
even  in  Arkansas.  By  mentioning  the  result  of  these  observations  to 
Mr.  Thomas,  who  is  a  practical  miner  especially  well  acquainted  with 


OF    INDIANA.  337 


the  researches  for  salt,  he  confirmed  these  views  by  his  own  experience. 
Thus  a  great  deal  of  useless  expense  and  disappointment  in  the  searches 
for  salt  would  he  spared  by  a  preliminary  and  geological  examination  of 
the  country,  and  the  exact  determination  of  the  geological  horizon. 
From  this  determination  one  could  know  within  about  fifty  feet  the  depth 
at  which  the  soft  and  the  hard  brine  could  be  reached. 

Except  the  borings  of  Mr.  Thomas,  I  do  not  know  of  any  other  that 
have  been  made  along  the  Wabash  river,  though  it  is  evident  that  strong 
brine  could  be  found  all  along  the  Wabash  river,  at  a  depth  correspond- 
ing with  the  geological  horizoji  of  each  county. 

A  few  other  exposures  of  coal  in  Fountain  county  are  mentioned  in 
Dr.  D.  Dale  Owen's  report,  pages  31,  32  and  33.  The  whole  section  of 
the  boring  at  Mr.  Thomas'  is  mentioned  in  the  same  volume,  pages  45 
to  49. 

WARREN  COUNTY. 

I  have  examined  the  Coal  Measures  of  this  county  only  at  Williams- 
port  and  around  that  place.  Just  opposite  the  railroad  depot  of  Wil- 
liamsport,  the  Millstone  Grit  is  exposed  on  a  perpendicular  bank  at  the 
falls  of  the  creek.  The  bank  is  quarried  and  gives  an  excellent  build- 
ing stone.  It  is  seventy  to  eighty  feet  thick,  and  underlaid  by  micaceous 
shales.  These  shales,  at  least  where  I  have  seen  them  exposed,  do  not 
contain  any  coal. 

The  town  of  Williamsport  is  built  just  at  the  base  of  a  high  bank  of 
soft  black  shales,  intermixed  with  carbonate  of  iron.  They  are  marked 
with  remains  of  fossil  plants,  and  have  some  traces  of  coal.  Above 
this  bank  of  shales  (twenty  feet  thick)  there  is  a  somewhat  conglomer- 
atic and  ferruginous  sandstone,  that  is  referable  to  the  Millstone  Grit, 
at  least  to  an  upper  member  of  this  formation.  At  Williamsport  I 
could  get  only  scant  information  about  the  coal  strata  of  the  county,  and 
found  nobody  to  direct  me  to  some  of  its  outcrops.  From  the  direction 
of  the  limiting  line  of  the  coal  basin  of  Indiana,  which  passed  from 
Independence  northward  to  Pine  Village,  it  is  pretty  certain  that  two 
beds  of  coal,  which  are  said  to  be  exposed  on  Big  Pine  creek,  the  one 
five  miles,  the  other  twelve  miles  north-west  of  Williamsport,  belong  to 
the  sub-conglomerate  coal.  These  beds  are  two  feet  thick.  Of  course 
no  other  coal  can  be  found  by  boring  below  this  one,  and  the  place  of 
coal  Fos.  1  A  and  I  B  can  be  looked  for  only  in  the  hills  or  above  the 
general  level,  along  the  western  boundary  line  of  the  county. 


338  GEOLOGICAL  EECONNOISSANCE 


YERMILLION  COUNTY. 

This  county  has  the  same  coal  as  that  of  Fountain  county,  at  the 
mouth  of  Coal  creek,  but  at  a  lower  level.  Thus,  on  Yermillion  river, 
the  Hughs'  bank  (reported  by  Dr.  D.  Dale  Owen,  vol.  1,  page  35,)  is 
exactly  the  upper  part  of  the  high  bank  exposed  at  Mr.  Thomas'  on 
Coal  creek.  It  is  the  part  referable  to  coal  No.  5,  and  it  is  here  near 
the  level  of  the  creek.  A  remark  of  D.  D.  Owen  about  the  general 
geological  features  of  Vermillion  county  confirms  my  opinion  about 
the  place  of  this  coal.  He  says,  page  37,  that  he  has  not  seen  sandstone 
in  this  county  suitable  for  the  furnace  hearth-stones;  but  that  probably 
some  can  be  found,  if  not  in  Yermillion,  at  least  in  Parke  and  Foun- 
tain counties.  The  Mahoning  sandstone  is  often  hard  and  compact 
enough  to  give  good  building  and  hearth  stones.  From  the  direction 
of  the  dip  this  sandstone  passes  under  the  Wabash  river  in  entering 
Yermillion  county,  and  the  upper  part  of  the  measures,  in  their  whole 
thickness  of  400  feet,  has  no  sandstone  hard  enough  to  be  used  for 
building  purpose. 

In  the  neighborhood  of  Newport,  on .  a  branch  of  Bennett's  creek,  a 
coal  bank  is  exposed  and  somewhat  worked.  It  is  overlaid  by  about 
five  feet  of  black,  bituminous,  fossiliferous  shales,  which  have  the  char- 
acters of  those  of  coal  No.  9.  As  this  bed  is  pretty  high  up  in  the 
hills  it  is  probably  the  equivalent  to  coal  No.  9.  It  is  separated  by  a 
bank  of  twenty  feet  of  black,  and  sometimes  yellow,  ferruginous  shales 
from  another  coal  bed,  one  foot  thick.  The  shales  have  all  the  litho- 
logical  characters  of  coal  No.  8,  but  do  not  have  any  fossils.  Thus,  in 
Yermillion  county,  near  its  western  boundary  line,  and  where  the  hills 
are  somewhat  high,  coal  No.  9,  No.  8,  and  even  No.  11  can  be  found. 
The  first  one  is  generally  of  good  workable  thickness  and  of  good  qual- 
ity. Along  the  Wabash  river  and  near  the  base  of  the  hills,  coal  No. 
5  has  its  geological  horizon,  and  may  be  found  at  many  places. 

SULLIYAN  COUNTY. 

Near  Farmersburg  a  coal  bank  is  owned  by  Messrs.  Elliot  and  Sharp, 
and  worked  by  a  shaft  of  about  fifty  feet,  that  has  the  following  section  : 


OF  INDIANA.  339 


Drift  and  soil 10 

Soft  micaceous  shales 8 

Sandstone  (hard  and  compact) 23 

Soft  stone 3 

Shales,  soft  and  soapstone,  with  plants 3 

Coal 3    6 

The  soft  shales  overlying  the  coal  have  the  fossil  plants  characteris- 
tic of  coal  No.  4.  I  thus  ascertain  the  geological  horizon  of  this  coal, 
and  of  the  overlying  sandstone,  the  Mahoning.  The  coal  has  the  aver- 
age quality  of  coal  No.  4.  It  is  compact,  has  much  carbon,  is  free  of 
sulphuret,  and  would  make  an  excellent  coke.  In  shafting  twenty  to 
thirty  feet  lower,  coal  No.  3  could  be  reached  and  both  banks  worked 
together. 

Three  miles  east  of  Currysville,  on  Busseron  creek,  a  bank  of  coal 
four  to  five  feet  thick  is  exposed  on  the  property  of  Mr.  Ladson.  It  is 
overlaid  by  two  inches  of  black,  soft,  brittle  shales,  a  true  brash  coal, 
and  then  by  four  to  five  feet  of  soft  gray  shales  or  soapstone,  where  I 
could  not  find  any  fossil  plants.  Over  this  there  is  a  bed  of  coarse, 
shaly  sandstone,  passing  upward  to  a  hard  sandstone.  Its  thickness 
could  not  be  ascertained.  This  coal  is  the  equivalent  to  the  former  and 
the  section  is  nearly  the  same. 

I  did  not  examine  any  other  coal  in  Sullivan  county;  but  from  in- 
formation received,  it  appears  that  three  miles  east  of  Farmersburg,  at 
Mr.  Dufley's,  a  coal  bank,  five  feet  thick,  is  exposed  and  worked.  On 
the  farm  of  Busseron  creek,  on  the  farm  of  Mr.  Thos.  Creager,  section 
13,  township  7  north,  range  9  west,  a  coal  of  unknown  thickness  was 
reached  at  fifteen  feet  below  the  surface,  by  digging  a  well.  Judging 
from  the  general  direction  of  the  dip  of  the  strata,  and  from  the  lime- 
stone that  is  exposed  in  the  creek  above  this  coal,  it  is  referable  to 
No.  3. 

Some  other  coal  strata  of  this  State  are  mentioned  in  the  first  report 
of  D.  D.  Owen,  page  39. 

The  position  of  Sullivan  county  indicates  coal  No.  4  all  along  the 
line  of  the  railroad,  and  on  both  sides  of  it.  Coal  No.  3  and  No.  2  on 
its  eastern  parts,  where  coal  No.  1  B  may  be  reached  by  borings  at  100 
feet,  and  coal  No.  5  and  No.  6  on  the  Wabash  valley. 


340  IDEOLOGICAL   RECONNOISSANCE 


KNOX  COUNTY. 

The  middle  and  western  part  of  this  county  is  occupied  by  the  Ma- 
honing  sandstone,  forming  high  banks  along  the  Wabash  valley,  north 
of  Yincennes  and  near  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  railroad,  especially 
near  Wheatland.  Coal  is  seen  at  different  places  underlying  this  sand- 
stone. About  three  miles  east  of  Wheatland  it  is  worked  somewhat 
high  in  the  hills,  four  to  five  feet  thick,  and  gives  a  fine  coal  of  excel- 
lent quality,  free  from  sulphuret  and  with  the  general  characters  of  this 
coal.  It  is  there  overlaid  by  a  great  bank  of  hard  sandstone,  from 
which  it  is  separated  by  only  four  to  six  inches  of  soft  brittle  shales, 
full  of  fossil  plants.  The  sandstone  is  quarried  for  constructions.  It  is 
compact,  fine  grained,  hard  and  resisting  to  atmospheric  influence. 

After  passing  the  meridian  of  Yincennes  to  the  eastward,  and  on  the 
other  side  of  the  Wabash  river,  coal  No.  4  is  only  attainable  by  shafts. 
On  the  west  fork  of  White  river  coal  No.  2  and  No.  3  may  be  found 
exposed  along  the  eastern  boundary  line  of  this  county,  and  coal  No.  1 
can  be  reached  by  shafts  at  about  130  feet  from  the  low  water  level. 

GIBSON  COUNTY. 

The  coal  exposed  in  Gibson  county,  mostly  along  White  river,  could 
not  be  examined  on  account  of  high  water.  It  is  the  only  county  of 
the  State  where  I  have  not  examined  an  out-crop  of  coal.  From  what 
I  have  seen  of  the  distribution  of  the  strata  in  Pike  county,  the  geologi- 
cal horizon  of  Gibson  county  is  mostly  between  coal  No.  4  and  No.  9, 
an  unfavorable  place  to  see  coal  out-croping  at  the  surface,  while  the 
whole  thickness  between  these  coal  beds  is  mostly  a  series  of  strata  bar- 
ren of  coal. 

Coal  No.  4  may  be  still  seen  out-cropping  near  the  eastern  boundary 
line  of  the  county,  as  the  Mahoning  sandstone,  according  to  Dr.  D. 
Dale  Owen's  statement,  is  exposed  on  Patoka  river,  three  miles  above 
Columbia,  where  it  has  been  quarried  for  building  bridges  along  the 
railroad  track.  The  same  coal,  and  also  No.  3,  may  be  reached  on 
both  sides  of  the  railroad  by  borings  from  twenty  to  one  hundred  feet 
deep. 


OF  INDIANA.  341 


CONCLUSIONS. 

I  sincerely  regret  that  want  of  time  prevented  the  examination  of  a 
greater  number  of  exposed  coal  banks,  and  that  I  am  unable  to  give  to 
each  proprietor  of  coal  satisfactory  information  about  the  geological 
position  and  the  value  of  his  coal  lands.  My  general  remarks,  never- 
theless, will  suffice  to  direct  the  researches  for  coal,  to  appreciate  the 
riches  of  the  combustible  mineral  of  the  coal  measures  of  Indiana,  and 
to  clearly  demonstrate  the  value  of  a  detailed  survey  and  the  advan- 
tages that  would  result  to  every  proprietor  of  coal  lands  of  an  exact 
acquaintance  with  the  useful  minerals  which  they  may  contain  at  various 
geological  horizons. 

Until  such  a  survey  can  be  made  in  Indiana,  or  rather  in  prosecuting 
it,  the  determination  of  the  strata  along  the  Wabash  river,  along  White 
river  and  its  principal  branches,  and  along  the  lines  of  the  railroad, 
would  be  for  the  State  of  the  greatest  importance.  It  would  certainly 
excite  an  enterprising  spirit,  bring  money  to  such  places  where  specula- 
tion promises  to  be  profitably  rewarded,  and  in  any  case  greatly  increase 
the  price  of  the  land. 


REPORT  OF  PROF.  LESLEY 


PHILADELPHIA,  December,  1860. 
Eichard  Owen,  M.  D.: 

DEAR  SIR  : — As  per  instructions  received  from  your  brother,  Dr.  David 
Dale  Owen,  I  made,  in  the  month  of  October  last,  a  topographical  and 
geographical  survey  of  that  portion  of  the  Indiana  coal  field  lying 
around  the  town  of  Cannelton,  in  fractional  township  7  south,  range  3 
west,  Perry  county. 

The  plan  pursued  was  the  same  as  that  in  the  Fourche  Cove,  Arkan- 
sas, examination,  and  the  survey  so  made  presents  the  following  results: 

1st.  That  the  cost  of  extending  such  a  series  of  examinations  over 
the  whole  State  of  Indiana  I  estimate  at  $150  per  township — field  and 
office  work  included. 

2d.  That  477  feet  of  Coal  Measures  and  Millstone  Grit  formation  are 
exposed  in  the  district  examined,  and  occur  in  the  following  order  and 
thickness,  from  the  top  of  the  highest  ground  in  the  township  down  to 
the  top  of  the  sub-carboniferous  limestone,  which  last  shows  itself  in 
the  bed  of  Deer  creek,  on  the  east  edge  of  the  township : 


FEET.   INCITES. 


477  Thin  bedded  sandstone,  shaly  towards  the  upper  part 77 

Band  of  highly  ferruginous  sandstone 4 

The  so-called  "  Top  Rock,"  being  a  thick-bedded,  homo- 
genous, fine  grained,  cream-colored  sandstone,  exten- 
sively quarried  for  building  purposes.  It  is  easily 

worked,  but  hardens  by  exposure 70 

325  Top  coal  vein i^sfc 

Gray  shales  containing  thin  bands  of  nodular  iron  ore...  48 

273  Main  Cannelton  coal  vein 4 

Fire-clay & 


344  GEOLOGICAL    RECONNOISSANCE 


FEET.    INCHES. 


Shales  and  schistose  sandstone,  containing  a  heavy  band 

of  Kidney  iron  ore  35  feet  below  the  main  coal  vein...  53 

214  Lower  Cannelton  coal  vein 1     1 

Fire-clay 4 

Shales : 10 

The  so-called  "  Bottom  Rock."     Thick  bedded  sandstone 

sometimes  quarried  for  buildings  and  tombstones 40 

Thin  bedded  sandstone 35 

125  Coal  streak 00 

Massive  sandstone  and  conglomerate 70 

Covered  space,  probably  sandstone 55 

0  Top  of  the  sub-carboniferous  limestone,  at  the  mouth  of 

Deer  creek 00 

3d.  That  the  iron  ores  in  this  district  are  so  thinly  dissiminated 
through  the  shales  as  not  to  warrant  the  erection  of  a  blast  furnace, 
with  the  exception  perhaps  of  a  band  of  kidney  ore  thirty-five  feet  be- 
low the  main  coal,  which  might  be  mined  by  stripping,  and  the  ore  then 
mixed  with  Missouri  ore  and  thus  form  a  good  iron. 

4th.  That  four  beds  of  coal  are  seen — the  first  or  lowest  is  but  a 
streak,  and  lies  immediately  upon  the  conglomerate,  or  125  feet  above 
the  sub-carboniferous  limestone. 

The  second,  or  "Lower  Cannelton  vein,"  lies  90  feet  above  the  first, 
or  214  feet  above  the  limestone,  and  has  an  average  thickness  of  thir- 
teen inches.  It  is  bright  and  fractures  in  very  small  and  irregularly 
shaped  pieces.  A  bed  of  fine  fire-clay,  four  feet  in  thickness,  underlies 
it. 

The  third,  or  "Main  Cannelton  coal,"  lies  60  feet  above  the  last 
named,  or  237  feet  above  the  sub-carboniferous  limestone,  and  is  that 
which  has  been  so  extensively  worked  for  a  number  of  years  past  for 
steamboats  and  manufactories.  This  coal  shows  a  laminated  structure 
and  breaks  in  cubes.  A  bench  of  sulphurous  coal  divides  the  vein  into 
two  bands — the  upper  averaging  twelve  inches  in  thickness,  and  the 
lower  thirty-six  inches.  Locally  this  coal  vein  thins  to  a  mere  streak, 
as  will  be  hereafter  shown.  It  lies  upon  a  five  foot  bed  of  fire-clay, 
and  has  for  the  most  part  a  compact,  gray,  sandy  shale  roof,  though  in 
some  localities  this  shale  has  disappeared  and  the  roof  is  composed  of 
the  sandstone  of  the  "  Top  Rock." 

The  fourth,  or  "Upper  Cannelton  vein,"  lies  52  feet  above  the  main 
vein,  or  325  feet  above  the  limestone,  and  averages  eighteen  inches  in 


OF    INDIANA.  345 


thickness.  It  has  the  same  general  characteristics  as  the  second  or 
lower  vein. 

5th.  That  the  general  dip  of  the  strata  is,  as  shown  upon  the  accom- 
panying map,  E".  76J  "W.,  its  average  fall  being  33  feet  to  the  mile.  • 

6th.  That  this  dip  is  not  regular,  but  in  long,  low  waves,  and  that 
these  last  are  crossed  at  right  angles  by  similar  waves.  These  waves 
cause  the  leading  peculiarity  of  this  portion  of  the  coal  fields,  and  also 
have  been  the  cause  of  much  perplexity  and  pecuniary  loss  to  those 
who  have  undertaken  to  develop  the  resources  of  this  district,  for  the 
main  coal  vein  has  always  been  found  to  become  thin  and  sometimes 
even  to  disappear  upon  the  crests  of  these  waves,  thus  reducing  very 
much  the  area  of  workable  coal,  and  throwing  it,  so  to  speak,  into 
pockets  which  are  difficult  to  strike,  without  a  previous  careful  geologi- 
cal and  topographical  survey,  the  eye  of  the  practical  miner,  even  train- 
ed as  it  may  be,  not  being  so  certain  to  detect  these  disturbances  as  a 
careful  examination  by  compass  and  level. 

In  the  tunnel  north  of  Cannelton  this  thinning  out  of  the  coal  vein 
can  be  plainly  followed.  A  shaving  off  of  the  coal  vein  would  express 
this  better — as  will  be  seen  by  the  accompanying  section — the  whole 
four  feet  of  coal,  with  its  sulphur  band,  not  being  compressed  into  a 
streak  only,  but  just  the  upper  bench  of  coal  disappears,  then  the  sul- 
phur band,  and  finally  the  lower  bench  of  coal,  thus: 

^Tunnel. 
•Upper  band. 

2r  band. 

7th.  That  the  strata  decrease  in  thickness  westward,  even  to  entire 
absence,  as  in  the  case  of  the  shales  overlying  the  main  coal  in  the  tun- 
nel, where  these  measure  forty-six  feet  in  thickness,  whilst  at  the  old 
Fulton  banks,  two  miles  to  the  westward,  they  have  entirely  disappear- 
ed— the  roof  of  the  coal  being  formed  of  the  so-called  "Top  Kock" 
mentioned  in  the  section  above ;  and 

8th.  That  besides  these  waves  there  is  a  fault  running  along  the  south 
side  of  the  valley  of  Caney  Fork,  of  Deer  creek,  and  in  a  direction 
parallel  to  that  of  the  general  dip  of  the  strata.  At  right  angles  to  this 
fault  and  running  into  it  is  another,  not  so  long,  and  showing  itself 
on  the  east  side  of  the  valley  of  "  Hayden  Meadow."  These  faults  are 
occasioned  by  an  upthrow  of  the  strata  o£  the  sub-carboniferous  lime- 
stones, which,  along  Caney  Fork  of  Deer  creek,  form  the  blufts  along 
that  stream,  and  dip  into  the  hills  at  an  angle  of  60°  in  a  S.  S.  W.  direc- 
tion. 


APPENDIX, 


TABLE  OF  ALTITUDES  IN  INDIANA. 


COUNTY. 

PLACE. 

!s" 

+3    15 

-a  QJ 

.?i  * 

%£~z 

03   cS  .5 

Allen                                            .  ... 

Fort  Wayne,  surface  of  Maumee  

Feet. 
720 
8»0 
441 
562 
482 
913 
49? 
919 
428 
926 
823 
598 
353 
426 
467 
481  i 
784 
750 
548 
450 
639 
655 
399 
6aO 
500 
6!^ 
5M 
771 
744 
822 
593 
599 
830 
400 
350 
297 
701 
878 
740 
538 
492 
483 
433 
361 
650 
638 
733 
678 

Benton   Jasper  find  White  ..    

Grand  Prairie,  average  

Olarke  

Cass 

Logansport             

Lawrenceburgh    (high  water  in  the  Ohio)       . 

Decatur      .         

Greensburgh  t  

Muncietown   (White  river  surface).    .. 

Patoka  above  mill  dam,  at  Jasper  

Fayette                                  .  .. 

Milton  

Fayette                                    

Franklin          ..                    

White  Water,  at  Brookville  

Floyd     

Low  water  in  Ohio,  at  New  Albany  

Flovd  

New  Albany,  Court  House  

White  river,  at  Bloomfield  

Princeton,  (sill  of  Court  House  doorj  

Grant                                           . 

Mississinewa  at  Marion     .  ..         .. 

Hamilton 

Noblesville  ... 

Jackson                      .    .               .  . 

Rockford    (below  mill-dam)  . 

Jefferson          ....        

Madison    (high  water  in  the  Ohio) 

Jennings  

Johnson.  

Knox    

Vincennes,  (high  water  in  Wabash)  

Lawrence  

Bedford  Court  House  

Lake,  Porter  and  Laporte  

Marion                       . 

Indianapolis                        .    .     . 

Martin                      ..     »» 

Mt  Pleasant  

Monroe        . 

Bloomington  Court  House       . 

Montgomery               

Crawfordsville  Court  House   ....        ..    .. 

White  river  at  Andersontown  

Gosport  on  the  hill  

Putnam         «            .. 

Greencastle  Court  House 

Posey               ...      . 

Posey           ...        .... 

Low  water  in  Wabash   fit  Nt'vv  Harmony. 

Posey       ,  

Mouth  of  Wabash  

St   Joseph               

Devil  Lake  

St.  Joseph  

Shelby  

Tippecanoe 

LaFavette  Court  HOUSP      .            .  . 

Tippecanoe. 

Wabash   at  LaFayette  

Vieo  . 

Terre  Haute  southern  part  of  town  

Vigo...  . 

Wabash  at  Terre  Haute  

Wabash  

W  abash 

\V  &  s  ii  in  cr  t  o  D 

Rnlpm    Hnnrt.  Hnnsft  

Average  height  of  land  in  the  Stateof  Indiana  

22 


348  GEOLOGICAL  RECONNOISSANCE 


EXTRA-LIMITAL  ALTITUDES,  FOR  COMPARISON. 

UNITED  STATES.  Above  Sea. 

Feet. 

Alabama,  Huntsville... , 600 

Arkansas,  Hot  Springs 718 

Arkansas,  Fort  Smith 460 

California,  Sierra  Nevada 10.000 to  12,000 

California,  Passes  to  Sierra  Nevada 4,700 

Florida,  Pensacola 20 

Georgia,  Savannah 30 

Georgia,  Augusta 300 

Illinois  and  Wisconsin,  Prairie  of  Illinois  and  Wisconson 950 

Illinois,  Kentucky  and  Missouri,  mouth  of  Ohio ...  275 

Kansas,  Fort  Scott 1,000 

Kansas,  Fort  Leavenworth 896 

Kansas,  Fort  Riley 1,300? 

Kentucky,  Louisville 441 

Kentucky,  Central  Kentucky 800 

Louisiana,  New  Orleans 20 

Louisiana,  Baton  Rouge 41 

Massachusetts,  Cambridge  Observatory... 71 

Maryland,  Baltimore 90 

Maryland  and  Virginia,  Blue  Ridge,  (average) 1,800 

Missouri,  St.  Louis 480 

Missouri,  Jefferson  Barracks 472 

Mississippi,  Vicksburg 350 

Minnessota,  Fort  Snelling 820 

New  York,  West  Point,  (U.  S.  M.  A.) 167 

New  York,  NiagaraFort., 250 

New  York,  Mt.  Marcy 6,344 

Nebraska,  Fort  Kearney 2,360 

Nebraska,  Fort  Laramie 4,519 

North  Carolina,  Blue  Ridge 2,200 

New  Mexico,  El  Paso 3,830 

New  Mexico,  Fort  Webster 6,350 

New  Mexico,  Taos 8,000 

Ohio,  Laka  Erie 565 

Ohio,  Cincinnati,  lower  part  432  feet,  upper  part 550 

Ohio,  Portsmouth 540 

Oregon,  Rocky  Mountains,  at  115°  longitude,  (W.) 8,000 

Gregon,  Fremont's  Peak 13,570 

Pennsylvania,  Philadelphia,  (Penn.  Hospital) , 30 

South  Carolina,  Charleston 30 

Texas  and  New  Mexico,  Staked  Plains,  from 3,000  to  4,000 

Tennessee,  Nashville* 460 

Tennessee,  Knoxville 960 

Tennessee.  Cumberland  river,  at  Nashville 388 

Tennessee,  Memphis '. 400 

Utah,  Humboldt  River  Valley 6,506 

Virginia,  Fort  Monroe 8 

Wisconsin,  Milwaukee '593 

BRITISH  POSSESSIONS. 

Lake  Winipeg 853 

RUSSIAN  AMERICA. 

Mt.  St.  Elias,  highest  point  in  North  America 17,900 


^According  to  some  authorities  533  feet  above  the  ocean;  probably  this  is  on  the  summit 
of  U'livvsitv  lrT. 


OF  INDIANA.  349 


WEST  INDIES.  Above  Sea. 

Feet. 

Island  of  Cuba,  Havanna 50 

SOUTH  AMERICA. 

Chile,  Tupangata,  (highest  point  in  South  America) 22,480 

EUROPE. 

England,  London 50 

Scotland,  BenNevis 4,368 

Germany,  Berlin 115 

France,  Paris 222 

Switzerland,  Geneva 1,280 

Switzerland,  Mt.  Blanc,  (highest  point  in  Europe) 15,750 

Italy,  Rome 170 

Russia,  St.  Petersburgh 20 

ASIA. 

China,  Canton «..  40 

Himalaya  Mountains,  Kunchinjinga,  highest  known  point  in  Asia  and  in  the  world..  28,178 

APKICA. 

Algiers 310 


350 


GEOLOGICAL  EECONNOISSANCE 


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352  GEOLOGICAL  RECONNOISSANCB 


BKOHGFIAKTS  CLASSIFICATION  OF  FEKKS. 

As  some  persons  may  prefer  to  have  the  exact  classification  of  Ferns 
adopted  by  Brongniart,  it  is  here  subjoined,  premising  that  it  is  founded 
upon  the  distribution  of  the  mid-rib  or  main  tube,  transmitting  nour- 
ishment from  the  petiole  to  the  apex  of  the  leaf.  In  French  this  is 
termed  nervure>  while  the  smaller  tubes  or  finer  ramifications  of  the  leaf 
are  called,  in  French,  nervules,  by  English  botanists,  veins : 

I.  Nerves  pinnated,  veins  not  reticulated.  •  •*   | 
A. — Mid-rib  or  nerve  simple,  bifurcated  or  pinnated. 

1.  Frond  simple,  veins  simple  or  bifurcated Teniopteris. 

2.  Pinnules  simple  or  semi-pi nnatifid,  •with  equal  lobes,  veins  slight- 

ly oblique  to  the  mid-rib  or  median  nerve Pecopteris. 

3.  Pinnules  deeply  lobed,  lobes  crossing  and  diverging;  nerve  bi- 

furcating or  bipinnate;  oblique ..Sphenopteris. 

B. — Veins  diehotomous,  very  oblique  on  the  median  nerve. 

4.  Frond  simple Glossopteris. 

5.  Pinnules  adhering  to  the  base  of  the  rachis ;  veins  growing  from 

this  rachis;  no  median  nerve Odontopteris. 

6.  Pinnules  not  adhering  to  the  rachis: 

(a)  Pinnules  entire,  symmetrical Neuropteris. 

(b)  Pinnnules  entire  or  lobed,  very  inequilateral,  principal  nerve 

almost  marginal Loxopteris. 

(c)  Pinnules  flabelliform  (fanshaped)  lobed 'Leptopteris. 

(d)  Pinnules  palmated,  with  pinnated  nerves  on  each  lobe Cheiropteris. 

II.  Veins  flabelliform,  no  principal  nerve. 

A. — Veins  pedunculated Cyclopteris. 

B. — Fasciculated  veins,  radiating  dichotomously Symenopteris. 

C. — Frond  deeply  lobed;  lobes  one-nerved Schizopteris. 

III.  Nerves  anastomosing. 

A. — Secondary  nerves  all  equal  and  reticulated;  no  free  nerve Lonchopteri*. 

B. — Principal  nerves  forming  a  square  grating;  veins  reticulated,  none 

free Clathropteri*. 

C. — Nerves  unequal,  areolar,  a  portion  terminating  freely,  in  these  are- 

ole§  or  inter-spaces Phlebopteri*. 


OF    INDIANA. 


353 


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OP    INDIANA. 


355 


SYNOPSIS  OF  THE  CLASS  POLYPI.* 


Radiated  animals  without  locomotive  organs,  with  one  or  more  circles  of  contractile  tentacles  around  the  mouth, 
having  a  central  visceral  cavity,  presenting  but  one  opening  for  the  reception  of  food,  and  discharge  of  excretions ; 
containing  also  the  reproductive  organs  when  they  exist.  Reproduction  fissiparous,  also  by  gemmae  (buds)  and 
ovules  (eggs.) 


I.  SUB-CLASS  COEALLARIA,  (Actinoidea  of  Dana.) 

The  Polypary.  where  it  exists,  is  usually  calcareous ;  may  be  tubular,  cyathoid,  discoid, 
or  basilar,  but  never  has  tubular,  horny  stems ;  gastric  cavity  surrounded  by  membra- 
nous vertical  lamella). 


I.  ORDER  ZOAKTHAEIA. 

Polyps  furnished  with  conical,  tubu- 
lar, simple  or  arborescent  tentacles, 
not  bipinnated,  and  with  numerous 
membranous  lamellae. 

SEC.  1.  Zoantharia  Malacodermata. 

Darma  tissue  fleshy,  not  a  true  cal- 
careous polypary  . 

1.  Fam.  Actinidaj. 

2.  Fam.  Cerianthidaa. 

3.  Fam.  Minyadae. 

SEC.  2.  Zoantharia  Aporosa. 

Dermal,  sclerotic,  calcareous  polypa- 
ry; septal  system  well  developed 
imperforate,  derived  from  six  primi- 
tive rays.  No  diaphragms,  (floors.^ 
The  most  star-shaped  of  all  corals 

t  Genera. 

1.  Fam.  Turbinolidas.  ?Turbinolia. 

(Flabellum,  &c. 

2.  Fam.  Oculinidae. 

rCaryophyllia. 
J  Meandrina. 
]  Stylina. 

(.Astrea,  &c. 

rFungi 


3.  Fam.  Astreidas. 


<Stephanoseris. 
(Agaricia,  &c. 


4.  Fam.  Fungidas. 

SEC.  3.  Zoantharia  Perforata. 

Lamella?  of  the  polypary  not  imper- 
forate as  in  the  previous  section,  but 
porous  or  reticulated  ;  without  dia- 
phragm. 


2.  Fam.  Poirtidae.  Porites. 

SEC.  4.  Zoantharia  Tabulata. 

Polypary  composed  of  a  well  devel- 
oped mural  system,  having  the  vis- 
ceral chambers  entirely  divided  into 
stories  or  compartments  by  a  series 
of  complete  diaphragms  or  trans- 


H.   ORDER  ALCYONARIA.    m.  ORDER  PODACTYNARIA. 


Polypary  having  eight 
bipinnated  tentacles,  or 
eight  perigastric  lamel- 
lae, containing  the  re- 
productive organs.  Nev- 
er divided  into  radiating 
longitudinal  chambers. 

1.  Fam.    (Genera. 
Alcyoni-  <Alcyonium. 

"  e.          (Tubipora,  &c. 

2.  Fam.    rGorgonia. 
Gorgo-     <Isis. 

nidae.       (Corallium,  &c. 

3.  Fam.  Pennatulidffl. 


Polyps  having  the  gastric 
cavity  surrounded  by  4 
membranous  vertical 
septa,  surmounted  by 
four  pairs  of  intestini- 
form  reproductive  or- 
gans. Tentacles  discoid, 
pedunculated,  not  tubu- 
lar, mouth  proboscidi- 
form. 

Fam.  Lucernaridae. 


n.  SUB-CLASS  HYDRARIA. 

Simple    cylindrical  bod- 
ies, without  polypary . 


Fam.  Hydridae. 


verse  floors.  Septal  apparatus  rudi- 
mentary, or  almost  wanting ;  never 
crucial. 


Heliolites. 
Plasmopora. 
Michelinia. 
Favosites. 
Alveolites. 
Chsetetes. 
Constallaria. 
Halysites. 
Syringopora. 
Pocillypora,&c. 
3.  Fam.  Seriatoporidas.  Seriatopora,&c 

4.Fam.Thecida, 


1.  Fam.  Milleporidaj. 


2.  Fam.  Favositidas. 


3.  F.  Cyathophyllidse. 


SEC.  5.  Zoantharia  Tubulosa. 

Walls  of  the  simple  or  compound 
polypary,  not  perforated;  visceral 
cavity  presenting  neither  columella, 
floors,  nor  septa ,  only  costal  striae, 
not  projecting  from  the  interior  of 
walls. 


Fam.  Auloporidae. 


( Aulopora. 
JPyrgia. 


SEC.  6.  Zoantharia  Rugosa. 

Simple  or  compound  polypary,  deriv- 
ing its  septal  system  from  four,  not 


six,  primitive  elements,  and  having 
the  visceral  chambers  usually  pro- 
vided with  floors  or  with  vascular 
tissue.  Reproduction  fissiparous,  not 
by  gemmation. 

1.  Fam.  Stauridae.  Stauria,  &c. 

2.  Fam.  Cyathoxonidae.  Cyathoxonia. 

"Zaphrentis. 
Amplexus. 
Cyathophyllum 


Streptelasma. 
Acervularia. 
Strombodes. 
Lithostrotion. 
Axophyllum. 
Lonsdalia. 
4.  Fam.  Cystiphyllidae.'Cystiphyllum. 

SEC.  T.  Zoantharia  Cauliculata. 


Polyps  supported  on  a 
polypary  resembling  that  of  Isis, 
Gorgonia,  &c.,  among  Alcyonaria; 
but  distinguished  by  a  spiny  or 
smooth  surface,  while  alcyonaria  is 
marked  by  striae. 

SEC.  8.   Zoantharia  Incertce  Sedis. 

A  few  genera,  the  exact  affinities  of 
which  are  somewhat  undetermined, 
are  arranged  under  this  head. 


*From  the  monograph  of  Milne  Edwards  and  Jules  Haime  on  fossil  polyparies,  the  coral  framework  of  the  polyp. 


356 


GEOLOGICAL  RECONNOISSANCE 


WOODWABD'S  CLASSIFICATION  OF  THE  MOLLUSCA, 


V 

CLASS. 

ORDER. 

SECTION. 

FAMILY. 

GENERA. 

•.£ 

~J. 

Order  I. 

Sec.  A. 
Octopoda     . 

i.  Argonautidae. 
n  •  OctopodsB. 

Dibranchiata  

Sec.  B. 
Decapoda  • 

in.  Teuthidae. 
iv.  BelemnitidaB. 
v.  Sepiadae. 

CLASS  I. 

vi.  Spirulidae. 
i.  Nautilidae. 

Nautilus,  Lituites,  Trochoce- 

Cephalopoda. 

Order  n. 

n.  Orthoceratidaa. 

ras,  Clymenia. 
Orthoceras,      Gomphoceras, 
Oncoceras,  Phragmoceras, 
Cyrtoceras,  Ascoceras,  Gy- 

roeeras. 

m.  Ammonitidse. 

Goniatites,  Bactrites,   Cera- 

tites,  Ammonites,  Crioce- 

ras,    Turrilites,    Hamites, 

Ptycohceras,  Baculites. 

Order  I. 

Sec.  A. 

Prosobranchiata  .  .  • 

Siphonostomata. 
Sec.  B. 

CLASS  LT. 

Order  n. 

Holostomata. 
Sec.  A. 

Gasteropoda.  < 

Pi  1        'f 

[noperculata. 

• 

Sec.  B. 

* 

Order  m. 

Operculata. 
Sec.  A. 

3 

Opisthobranchiata.  • 

Tectibranchiata. 
Sec.  B. 

2 

Nudibranchiata. 

^ 

CLASS  IE. 

..  ! 

A.  Thecosomata. 

|' 

Pteropoda.  .  . 

1 

>B.  Gymnosomata. 

i.  Terebratulidas. 

Terebratula,       Terebratella, 

3 

Argiope,  Thecidium,  Strin- 

3 

n.  Spiriferldae. 

gocephalus. 
Spirifera,    Athyris,    Retzia, 

r^ 

Uncites. 

0 

CLASS  IV. 

in.  Rhynchonellidae. 

Bhynchonella,    Camaropho- 
ria,  Pentamerus,  Atrypa. 

Erachiopoda.  < 

rv.  Orthidee. 

Orthis,    Strophomena,    Lep- 
taana,  JKoninckia,  Davidso- 

nia,  Calceola. 

v.  I»roductidae. 

Producta,   Aulosteges,  Stro- 

phalosia,  Chonetes. 

vi.  Craniadae. 

Crania. 

vii.  Discinidae. 

Discina,  Siphonotreta. 

L 

vui.  Lingulidae. 

Lingula,  Obolus. 

'-. 

I1 

i.  Ostreidje. 

n.  Aviculidaa. 

ni.  Mytilidaa. 
rv.  Arcada3. 

CLASS  V. 

v.  Tringoniadaa. 

vi.  TJnionidaB. 

Conchifera  .  .  - 

vn.  Chamidaa. 

Sec.  A. 

vm.  Hippuridaa. 

rx.  Tridacnidae. 

'•'•ic/" 

Siphonida 

x.  Cardiadaa, 

xi.  Lucinidae. 

Integropallialia  . 

xn.  Cycladidae. 

xin.  Cyprinidaa. 

xrv.  Veneridae. 

Sec.  B. 

xv.  Mactridse. 

xvi.  Tellinidae. 

Siphonida 

xvn.  Solenidae. 

xviii.  Myacidaa. 

Sinupallialia.... 

xix.  Anatinidae. 

xx.  Gastrochoenidae. 

xxi.  Pholadidaa.       » 

i.  Ascidiadas. 

CLASS  VI. 

n.  Clavellinidaa. 

in.  Botryllidae. 

Tunicata  

rv.  Pyromidaa. 

v.  Salpidae. 

OF  INDIANA. 


357 


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OF  INDIANA. 


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360  GEOLOGICAL    RECONNOISSANCB. 

ANALYSIS  OF   THE  LOUISVILLE  AND  JEFFERSONVILLE 
HYDRAULIO  LIMESTONE .* 

BY  DR.  PETEE,  SEE   PAGE  220,  SECOND  VOLUME,  KENTUCKY  REPORT. 

Hydraulic  Limestone,    (uriburnt,)    "from  the  Falls  of  the   Ohio   River,    at   Louisville,    Jefferson 

County,  Kentucky.11 

A  greenish-gray,  dull,  fine  granular  limestone,  adheres  slightly  to  the  tongue;  powder 
light  gray.     Composition  dried  at  212°  F. 

Carbonate  of  Lime, 60.43=28.29  Lime. 

Carbonate  of  Magnesia 18.67=  8.89  Magnesia. 

Alumina  y^d  oxides  of  Iron  and  Manganese 2.93 

Phosphor*  acid * .06 

Sulphuric  acid 1.58 

Potash 32  rSilica 22.58 

Soda : .13  I  Alumina,  colored  with 

oxide  of  iron 2.88 

Silica  and  insoluble  silicates 25.78  •{  Lime,    Magnesia  and 

Loss 32 

Loss 10  I  

I  25.78 

100.00 

The  air-dried  rock  lost  .70  per  cent,  of  moisture  at  212°  F. 


ANALYSIS  OF  A  HYDRAULIC  LIMESTONE  FROM  PENDLETON,  MADISON  CO.,  IND. 

BY  R.  OWEN. 

Moisture  expelled  from  one  gramme  at  300°  F 0.0085 

Insoluble  silicates 0.3400 

Peroxide  of  iron,  and  alumina 0.0020 

Carbonate  of  lime 0.1340 

Carbonate  of  Magnesia 0.2409 

Alkalies,  loss,  &c.,  undetermined 0.2746 

1.0000 


ANALYSIS  OF  A  HYDRAULIC  LIMESTONE  FROM  LOGANSPORT,  CASS  CO.,  INDIANA. 

BY    R.   OWEN. 

Moisture  expelled  from  one  gramme  at  300°  F ., 0.0030 

Insoluble  silicates 0.0215 

Peroxide  of  iron,  and  alumina 0.0360 

Carbonate  of  lime 0.1840 

Carbonate  of  Magnesia 0.2750 

Alkalies,  loss,  &c.,  undetermined 0.4805 

1.0000 

*This  limestone  is  exactly  of  the  same  character  on  the  two  sides  of  the  river;  seepage  107 
of  this  report. 


DESCRIPTION  OF  FOSSILS. 


No.  1.  Syphonia  digitata.— Formerly  named  and  described  by  Dr.  D.  D.  Owen,  in  the  Ken- 
tucky Geological  Report,  but  never  figured.  The  cut  represents  only  a  part  of  the  body  of 
this  amorphozoon,  and  is  one  third  the  natural  size.  Usually  the  body  is  spheroidal  with 
seven  or  nine  points  of  attachment,  three  of  which,  broken,  are  represented  in  the  cut.  The 
central  elevation  appears  to  have  been  tubular,  and  the  substance  made  up  of  cellular  tissue, 
containing  probably  calcareous  spicules,  constituting  altogether  a  type  of  the  simplest  form 
of  animal  life,  similar  to  other  spongy  Sarcodans,  such  as  our  present  sponge  of  commerce. 
This  fossil  occurs  abundantly  in  the  Lower  Silurian,  near  Frankfort,  Ky.,  and  will  probably 
be  found  in  portions  of  Indiana  with  a  similar  geological  horizon.  Although  extra  limital, 
this  interesting  specimen  of  the  first  dawn  of  animal  existence  was  thought  worthy  of  being 
lignographed. 

No.  2.  Halt/sites  sexto-catenatus. — This  is  perhaps  only  a  variety  of  the  H.  catenularia  or 
FI.  escharoides ;  but  seems  to  diifer  from  the  other  chain  corals  in  having  each  individual  poly- 
pary  more  uniformly  enclosed  by  six-sided  vertical  sutures  than  in  any  other  species;  this 
suggested  the  specific  name.  This  may,  however,  not  be  a  sufficiently  constant  or  distinctive 
form  of  the  mural  system,  to  constitute  a  new  species,  as  we  know  that  a  mass  of  spherical 
semi-solid  bodies  exposed  to  considerable  lateral  pressure  is  finally  disposed  to  assume  the 
hexagonal  form.  The  diaphragms  or  floors  are  1-16  of  an  inch  apart.  This  fossil  is  from  the 
Upper  Silurian  of  Huntington  county,  Indiana, 

No.  3.  Bucania  euomphaloides. — This  closely  resembles  some  species  of  the  genus  Bucania 
employed  by  Prof.  Hall  to  describe  centain  gasteropod  mollusks  similar  to  the  Bellerophon. 
The  specimen  is  not  quite  perfect  enough  to  determine  all  its  characters,  but  its  deep  umbili- 
cation  suggested  a  specific  name  showing  its  resemblance  to  the  Euomphalus. 

No.  4.  Gyroceras  rhomb olinearis, — Unfortunately  the  exact  position  of  the  siphuncles  can 
not  be  determined  from  this  specimen,  but  the  external  markings  of  ridges  produced  by  the 
eeptal  apparatus,  and  crossed  by  an  occasional  increase  or  thickening  of  the  shell  into  ridges 
have  produced  diamond  shaped  figures  so  mathematically  regular  as  sometimes  to  constitute 
a  perfect  rhombus,  at  others  a  rhomboid,  hence  the  name. 

No.  5  Represents  Columnar ia  inequalis,  (Hall,)  a  fine  specimen,  the  columns  radiating  with  a 
regular  and  rapid  divergence.  The  specimen  was  found  at  Peru,  Miami  county,  Indiana. 

*  It  was  designed  to  furnish  many  more  wood  cuts  and  to  give  a  full  description  of  fossils, 
as  well  as  a  methodical  list  of  all  the  fossils  hitherto  found  in  the  State;  but  the  want  of 
time  now  prevents  this.  As  some  apology  for  the  meagreness  of  the  descriptions  actually 
furnished  perhaps  it  may  be  admissible  to  remark  that  when  finally  called  upon  to  finish  this 
part  of  my  duty,  I  was  at  a  distance  from  specimens,  figures,  and  works  essential  for  com- 
parison, and  was  occupied  with  important  military  duties,  which  claimed  priority  over  a  task 
that  would  otherwise  have  been  a  labor  of  love.  R.  OWEN. 

CAMP  MORTON,  March  3,  1862. 


GEOLOGICAL  RECONNOISSANCE. 


363 


SILURIAN  FOSSILS. 


No.  J, 


No.  2. 


No.  4. 


No.  3. 


No.  5. 


23 


364  aEoi^OGicAi,  REGONNOISSANCE 

No.  6.  Ceriopora  lyra}  formerly  described  by  Owen  and  Norwood  -from  specimens  found 
in  Kentucky,  was  given  to  the  engraver  for  comparison.  It  was  designed  that  he  should 
figure  a  fine  species  found  four  miles,  west  of  Fredonia,  and  which,  from  the  constant,  trian- 
gular form  of  the  ramifications  which  support  the  net  work  is  named  Ceriopora  tricarinata, 
(R.JOwen.)  The  lacunose  apertures  are  small  and  sub-round,  the  spaces  between  the  apertures 
nre  usually  double  the  diameter  of  the  pits. 

No.  7.  Lithostrotion  Canadense  is  from  the  neighborhood  of  Lost  River,  Orange  county,  In- 
diana, and  is  figured  to  show  that  in  the  same  aggregate  polypary  or  coral-community  the 
individual  polyparies  (polyparites)  are  sometimes  round,  sometimes  hexagonal,  depending 
probably  upon  external  circumstances  of  lateral  pressure,  &c.,  while  yet  plastic. 

No.  8.  The  engraver  here  misunderstood  the  instructions  and  gave  prominence  tp  the 
crinoid  already  beautifully  figured  in  Prof.  Hall's  Iowa  Report,  showing  only  in  a  subordi- 
nate manner  the  gasteropod,  which  seems  to  have  formed  its  chief  food,  and  which  it  was  the 
intention  to  describe.  So  invariably  is  it  found  partly  swalled  by  the  criuoid  that  I  selected 
for  it  the  name  Pileopsis  pabulocrinus,  (R.  Owen)  to  indicate  that  this  Pileopsis  furnished  food  for 
Crinoids.  Some  of  the  detached  specimens  are  quite  large,  measuring  over  two  inches  across 
the  base,  and  nearly  three  inches  from  the  apex,  following  the  convexity  of  thecurve  to  the  base. 
Those  partly  swallowed  are,  however,  not  over  half  that  size.  In  the  neighborhood  of  Craw- 
fordsville,  Montgomery  county,  where  tfyis  Capulus  or  Pileopsis  is  found,  a  very  large  per 
centage  of  the  Crinoids  from  the  same  lopality  present  the  appearance  of  a  protuberant  Pi- 
leopsis, more  or  less  drawn  into  the  mouth  of  the  Croinoid.  The  locality  of  these  fossils  is 
not  far  from  the  junction  of  the  sub-carboniferous  limestone  and  sandstone. 

No.  9.  Conularia  Crawfordsvillensis,  (R.Owen). — Associated  with  the  above  fossils  described 
in  No.  8  are  found  somewhat  abundantly,  pteropods  of  the  genus  Conularia.  The  specimen  fur- 
nished the  engraver  is  somewhat  crushed,  but  the  markings  are  more  curved  than  in  the  ligno- 
graph  and  are  half  as  numerous  again  as  represented.  The  sub-carboniferous  limestone  of 
Crawfordsville  is  remarkable  rich  is  fossils,  and  may  develop  other  species  of  Conularia 
besides  the  one  which  we  have  specifically  denominated  from  its  locality. 

Nos.  10  and  11  represent  a  fucoid  found  in  the  sandstones  between  the  upper  and  middle 
pentremital  limestones,  about  150  feet  below  the  whetstone  quarry  of  Mr.  T.  Powel,  in  Orange 
county.  From  its  star-like  regularity  the  name  of  fucoides  asteroides  is  proposed. 


OF  INDIANA. 


365 


CARBONIFEROUS  FOSSILS. 


No.  7. 


No.  8. 


No.  9. 


No.  10. 


11. 


ERRATA. 


Chi  page  14,  in  the-  Mesozoid  part/of  the  table,  for  "carboniferous"  read  "cretaceous;"  for* 
"palseozotic"  read  "palaeozoic." 

Onjpage  20,  on  16th  lime  from  the  the  top,  for  "Shropshine"  read  "Shropshire." 
Oh  pflgS  21,  on  9th  line  from  bottom,  for  "United  Seates"  read  "United  States." 
On  page  27,  on  13th|line  from  top,  for  "opportunies"  read  "opportunities." 
On  page  39,  on  18th  line  from  top,  for  "Protarcea"  read  "Protaraea." 
On  page  40,  on  16th  line  from  top,  for  "vertebrate*'  read  "vertebrale." 
On  page  40,  on  25th  line  from  top,  for  "Cy-therina"  read  "Cytherina." 
On  page  44,  on  2d  line  from  bottom,  for  "populu"  read  "populus.' 
On  page  45,  on  last  line,  a  foot  note,  for  "Poe"  read  "Poa." 
On  page  47,  at  two  places  in  section,  for  "Domolite"  read  "Dolomite." 
On  page  47,  in  section,  for  "silicoius"  read  "silicious." 

On  page  48,  on  7th  line  from  top,  for  "inconvenienceon"  read  "inconvenience,  on;"  oti 
4th  line,  "impevious"  read  "impervious." 

On  page  60,  on  10th  line  from  top,  for  ."limestones"  read  "limestone;"  7th  line  from  bot- 
tom, for  "exists"  read  "exist." 

On  page  62,  after  "  Halysites  sexto-catenatus,"  read  (R.  Owen.) 
On  page  62,  on  12th  line  from  bottom,  for  "insequalis"  read  "  inequalis." 
On  page  63,^on  20th  line  from  top,  for  "Bumastus  "  read  "Bumastis." 
On  Jpagp^dS,  on  3d  line  from  top,  for  " Peteramdrus  "  read  "Pentamerus." 
On  page  64,  last  line,  for  "their  growth  by"  read  "by  their  growth." 
On  page  66,  near  bottom,  for  "cheet"  read  "chert." 
On  page  67,  on  3d  line,  for  "  zinc  blede  "  read  "  zinc  blende." 
On  page  68,  on  7th  line  from  bottom,  for  " atiticlinal "  road  "anticlinal." 
On  page  74,  on  6th  line  from  top,  for  "inlicates"  read  "silicates." 
On  page  81,  on  6th  line  from  bottom,  for  "  Acelapias  "  read  "Asclepias." 
On  page  92,  on  7th  line  from  top,  for  "problematium,"  read  "problematicum." 
On  page  105,  on  10th  line  from  top,  for  "rotalorius"  read  " rotatorius." 
On  page  106,  last  line,  for  "Amplexus  yandelli,"  read  "A.  Yandelli." 
On  page  125,  on  16th  line  from  bottom,  for  "limestones"  read  "limestone.", 
On  page  126,  on  10th  line  from  top,  for  "  Lithostration  "  read  "  Lithostrotion." 
On  page  126,  on  8th  line  from  bottom,  for  "  Archimeidpora  "  road  "Archimedipora." 
On  page  127,  in  section,  for  "Bluer"  read  "Blue,"  for  "Lithostroion  "  read  "Lithostro- 
tion," and  after  "locally  lithographic"  omit  the  period. 

On  page  131,  last  line,  after  "  Conularia  Crawfordsvillensis  "  add  (R.  Owen.) 
On  page  132,  first  line,  after  "Pileopsis  pabulocrinus,'  add   (R.  Owen.) 
On  page  140,   in   section,  for  "penremital"   read    "pentremital,"    for  "eucrinital"  read 
"  encrinital." 


368  GEOLOGICAL  RECONNOISSATCCE; 

On  page  144,  on  13th  line  from  bottom^  for  " stigmarciae  "  read  "stigmariee." 
On  page  146,  on  4th  line  from  top,  for  "pentrinital"  read  "pentremital." 
On  page  148,  on  14th  line  from  top,  for  "  experince"  read  "experience."' 
On  page  150,  on  21st  line  from  top,  for  "description"  read  "description." 
On  page  153,  on  14th  line  from  top,  for  "denominate"  read  "denominated:' 
On  page  158,  on  16th  line  from  bottom,  for  "  Lousiville  '    read  "  Louisville." 
On  page  162,  on  16th  line  from  bottom,  for  "Fusulima"  read  "Fusulina." 
On  page  164,  on  18th  line"  from  bottom,  for  "  trunk"  read  "trucks." 
On  page  169,  on  19th  line  from  bottom,  for  "cooking"  read  "coking/' 
On  page  170,  on  6th  line  from  top,  for  "cooking"  read  "coking." 
On  page  170,  on  9th  line  from  bottom,  for  "drying  "  read  "dying." 
On  page  174,  on  8th  line  from  top,  for  "points"  read  "paints." 
On  page  177,  on  llth  line  from  top,  for  "sold"  read  "solid." 
On  page  179,  on  14th  line  from  top,  for  "draing"  read  "draining.' 
On  page  181,  in  three  places,  for  "Potoka"  read  "  Patoka." 

On  page  183,  on  5th  line  from  top,  for  "one"  read  "ore,"  on  15th  line,  for  "lesqui"  reakl 
"  sescfui." 

On  page  185,  on  10th  line  from  top,  for  "  lithographioal "  read  "  topographical." 
On  page  185,  on  19th  line  from  top,  for  "shows"  read  "  show." 
On  page  190,  on  10th  line  from  bottom,  after  "land"  insert  "and." 
On  page  191,  in  section,  for  "Owen"  read  "Owen's." 

On  page  191,  on  13th  line  from  bottom,  for  "deundatio'n"  read  "denudation." 
OH  page  193,  on  llth  line  from  top,  after  "well"  omit  the  word  "as." 
On  page  194,  on  10th  line  from  top,  for  "gloo&ed"  read  "glossed." 
On  page  199,  on  14th  line  from  top,  for  "distinguished"  read  "distinguish, 
On  page  201,  on  13th  line  from  top,  foj*  "  Gosport"  read  "Gossert." 
On  page  201,  on  13th  line  from  bottom,  for  "nervures  "  read  "  nervure." 
On  page  205,  on  6th  line  from  top,  after  "Valparaiso"  insert  "we  find." 
On  page  206,  on  9th  line  from  bottom,  for  "  Orange"  read  "Osage." 
On  page  212,  on  17th  line  from  top,  for  "grapes"  read  "gasses." 
On  page  216,  on  9th  line  from  top,  after  "Rychsenus"  omit  the  comma. 
On  page  219,  on  2d  line  from  top,  for  "of"   read  "is." 
On  page  219,  on  13th  line  from  top,  for  "distant"  read  "distance." 
On  page  229,  on  20th  line  from  top,  for  "  cat-flag"  read  "cat-tail  flag." 
On  page  232,  in  foot  note,  for  "rises"  read  "raise,"  and  after  "filters"  insert  "it." 
On  page  239,  on  18th  line  from  top,  for  "board"  read  "bord." 
On  page  240,  in  foot  note,  for  "usefully"  read  "useful." 
On  page  247,  last  line,  for  "vegetable  which"  read  "vegetable,  they." 
On  page  252,  last  line,  for  "productions"  read  "productiveness." 
On  page  256,  on  6th  line  from  bottom,  for  "amount"  read  "amounts." 
On  page  261,  last  line,  for  " entrusted "  read  "extracted,"  and  for  "digestion"  rdad  "di- 
gesting." 

On  page  264,  on  4th  line  from  top,  for  "returning"  read  "retained." 

On  page  282,  on  10th  line  from  bottom,  for  "called  in"  read  "called  on." 

On  page  286,  on  14th  line  from  bottom,  for  "pecolating"   read   "percolating." 

On  page  287,  1st  line,  for  "returing"  read  "returning." 

On  page  296,  near  top  of  section,  for  "coal  No.  B"  read  "coal  No.  18." 

On  page  311,  on  14   Mine  from  bottom,  for  "coal  No.  113"  read  "coal  No.  1  B." 

On  page  323,  6th  line  from  toft  for  "recalled"  read  "referred." 


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139 

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" 


